Issue 105 : 22 May 2022
Talofa Lava, Kia Orana, Malo E Leilei, Tena Koutou, Hello ...
... and welcome to the latest issue of “For The Love Of The Game”, the official e-zine of the New Zealand Amateur Sport Association Inc., founded in Wellington, New Zealand in 2017.
If you have any feedback on this issue, ideas for future articles, or would like to contact the Editor, please click here. And, you are invited to forward the e-zine to others you know, who may be interested in reading it. An archive of earlier editions of the e-zine can be found here. For those who follow Twitter, you can also follow the Association, @AmateurSportNZ.
If you are interested in applying for membership of the Association, please click here.
Union In The Morning, League In The Afternoon ...
Cross-code volunteer referee Greg Shaw spends his Saturday’s on the rugby field, but for two different rugby codes. A member of the Wellington Rugby Referees Association, Greg first became interested in the 13-man game about 10 years ago, when his brother switched codes from union to league. Today, he volunteers his Saturday to “rugby”, in doing so providing opportunities for players from both codes to enjoy the benefits of playing the game.
(Greg first took up the whistle to referee Rugby Union in 1996)
Greg, who has also refereed in Japan, successfully manages his love of both games, on-field and off-field. On-field, adjusting to differences in positional play are Greg’s main challenge, while off-field (with the side-line support of his partner, Melissa), Greg enjoys the opportunity to be part of both rugby communities. The Association congratulates Greg on volunteering to help Wellingtonians enjoy the games they love to play, for over 25 years.
(In 2012, Greg, centre, extended his rugby refereeing to "the northern game")
Viewpoint : Has Sport Lost Its Integrity? ...
To "act with integrity" is to act honestly and with strong moral principles. Hopefully, for most people, these qualities are embedded at an early age and have a guiding influence over all aspects of their lives, whether on or off the sports-field. Amateur sport has always striven to be a manifestation of these qualities, given the act of community participation is a direct reflection of the values and principles that a community shares, nutures and celebrates.
(Have we lost our understanding of what it is to act with integrity?)
News this week that the Government is to establish an independent “sports integrity bureau” in response to the report into the culture of high-performance sport in New Zealand, as a new crown-entity, starkly reveals a new (unwelcome) reality, where it is now considered that "integrity in sport" can no longer be taken for granted.
According to media reports, the new body will, “have the power to investigate athlete welfare complaints ... the new agency will also oversee athlete safeguarding and child protection issues, along with match-fixing and anti-doping investigations.” Drug use, illegal gambling, child abuse or any anti-social behaviour all have no place in sport and a new crown-entity which investigates reported incidences will no doubt increase awareness of these harmful factors.
(Community sport has always been based on a values-based approach to participation)
Given the reported catalysts for the establishment of this new body arise in the professional arm of sport, amateur sport clubs (and the national bodies to which they are affiliated) will do well to emphasise their values-based approach to participation, as an effective way of ensuring that all participants can enjoy their involvement safely, “for the love of the game”.
“Kids In Sport, Stay Out Of Court" ...
Over a year ago, the Association highlighted the opportunity that society has through community sport clubs to minimise and mitigate social harm caused by youth. You can read that opinion piece, here. 16 months later, repeated news stories of youth embarking on ram-raid crime-sprees, brings the potential role of sport in keeping kids "out of court", back into focus.
(Creating opportunities for positive interaction can reduce the risks of negative outcomes)
A 2013 study exploring sport as a “tool for engaging socially vulnerable youth in an organised context” found that “sport clubs offered young people an environment where they could find support, meaning, appreciation, security and caring.”
(Community sport clubs offer more than just the opportunity to play a game)
As many readers will agree, community sport clubs offer more than just a game. By engaging youth in a community-focused environment with positive values, the temptation to harm the community through anti-social or criminal behaviour must surely diminish? As a de-facto arm of social policy, sport’s national administrators should focus on supporting, resourcing and thereby enabling clubs to improve social cohesion in their communities.
Association Board Positions Elected ...
At the Board’s first meeting of the current fiscal year, Gordon Noble-Campbell was elected Chair, Dr. Farib Sos, MNZM was elected Deputy Chair and Will Caccia-Birch was elected Financial Controller. At the Board Meeting, FINDEX was re-appointed to provide financial and accounting services to the Association and the Board agreed to the appointment of an Association Executive Officer, on an honoriarum basis.
Canterbury Rowing Club Celebrates 160 Years ...
One of New Zealand’s oldest sport clubs, the Canterbury Rowing Club this weekend celebrates its 160th anniversary. The actual 160th anniversary was in August 2021 but was delayed twice because of COVID-19. The Canterbury Rowing Club has won numerous titles over the years and in recent times the club has produced a number of internationals rowers.
(The Canterbury Rowing Club in the halcyon days of the 1880's)
The New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association was formed on March 16, 1887, with 24 clubs affiliated (including the Canterbury Rowing Club). The first national championship regatta was held on the Whanganui River in March 1888, when the main event on the programme, the champion fours, was won by the Canterbury Rowing Club.
(Through the 1980's until today, the club has continued to serve the community)
You can read RNZ’s report of the anniversary here. (Editor’s Note: Contrary to RNZ’s report, the oldest sport club in New Zealand, is likely to be the "Wellington Collegians Cricket Club", which was originally formed (prior to amalgamation with the College Old Boys club in 1970) in November 1842 at the Ship Hotel in Te Aro, as the “Wellington Cricket Club”).
Association Membership Categories & Fees Confirmed …
Members of the Association will have received their subscription invoice for the 2022/2023 year earlier this week. As a membership organisation, the Association relies on the support of those who share its vision and values. We thank all members for their ongoing support.
(Association 2022/2023 membership subscriptions are now due)
The Board appreciates that many individuals, families and community organisations may be experiencing financial hardship at the present time. Please contact the Association (by clcking here), if the impost of a subscription fee for the current year is an obstacle to your membership.
From The Archives ...
DEATH OF CHIEF
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, VOLUME LXXV, ISSUE 23044, 23 MAY 1938, PAGE 10
“The death has occurred at his home at Waiohiki, after a long illness, of Kurupo Tareha, one of the principal Maori chiefs of Hawke's Bay, the only Maori who has won the New Zealand amateur golf championship, and a noted all-round athlete. Born at Waiohiki in 1870, Kurupo Tareha was the younger son of Tareha Te Moananui, a leading Hawke's Bay chief and the first Maori member of a New Zealand Parliament.
In 1903 Kurupo Tareha won the Now Zealand amateur golf championship at the Waiohiki links. He also competed in New Zealand championship tournaments at Dunedin and Auckland. Although he won the Manawatu championship several times, he was never successful in the Hawke's Bay championship tournament.
Until a few years ago he was a member of the Napier Golf Club. He was one of the founders of the New Zealand Maori Golf Association, and at the time of his death was its patron. Other sports in which he took part were rugby football, cycling, boxing and rifle shooting. He was a member of the Ruahine Rifle Club for several years and was a keen rifle shot.”
Known as the “father of Maori golf”, Kurupo Tareha was the younger son of Tareha Te Moananui of Ngati Kahungunu, (one of the first four Maori members of Parliament) and Hārata Te Apatari. Kurupo was educated at the Meanee Mission College and Te Aute College and he served in the Maori Contingent following the New Zealand Wars, as a Sergeant.
(Kurupo Tareha at the New Zealand Golf Championships in 1901)
The Hon. Secretary of the Waiohiki Football Club at the turn of the 20th century, Kurupo established a reputation as a golfer, taking up the game in 1901. His interest in sport extended to the Northern League (rugby league) and he became a member of the Hawkes Bay committee for that sport in 1910. His first wife was Paranihia Pānapa with whom he had his son Kapi. His second wife Alice (Brightwell) died in 1914 and Kurupo subsequently remarried (Hiraina Puano).
The first New Zealand Maori Golf Association tournament was held in 1930 (the year that the Association was formed) and Kurupo was the Association’s secretary and a founder. He returned to rugby football and in the 1930’s was elected a vice-president of the Tamatea Rugby Football Club. In 1931, he was Chairman of this hosting committee for the second New Zealand Maori golf championship, held in Hawkes Bay.
(Kurupo Tareha (left) and his son Kapi Tareha (right))
Kapi Turupo was gifted with his father’s golfing prowess. He won the New Zealand Maori amateur championship twice, the Hawke's Bay championship nine times, and the championship of southern Hawke's Bay three times. In 1935, he renounced his amateur status, becoming the first Maori professional golfer in New Zealand.
Kurupo Tareha died on 18 May 1938 and is buried in the Waiōhiki cemetery.
(A reminder that the Association’s database of New Zealand sportspeople from the earlier days of our national sporting life “He Whakamaumahara Ki Te Tangata”, can be found here).
The Final Word ...
“In the original sense, an amateur is someone who does something for the love of it.”
Sir Ken Robinson, (1950-2020)