Last week, our team made their way to Ōtepoti to attend the inaugural Taurite Tū games, which brought together more than 200 kaumātua from across Aotearoa, and tbh, sometimes we struggled to keep up!
Taurite Tū is a kaupapa Māori strength and balance exercise and wellness programme for our Māori whānau aged 50+ that brings together traditional Māori exercises. The programme was created in Ōtepoti at Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, designed and researched at Ōtākou Marae with kaumātua Māori, Māori physiotherapists, and Māori movement experts in mau rākau, tī rākau, poi, tākaro and whare tapare.
Taurite Tū came about after a tono was put out to whānau by the Ūpoko of Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, Edward Ellison, in 2008 to support kaumātua in falls prevention.
The wero was picked up and led by Katrina Anne Pōtiki Bryant (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu), Taurite Tū Project Lead and Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka/ University of Otago Associate Dean Māori and Lecturer at Te Kura Komiripai/ School of Physiotherapy. And now, Taurite Tū is delivered in 26 organisations, from Whangarei to Bluff!
The games last week at Forsyth Barr Stadium were hearty! They included basketball shots, sit and stand, poi toa throw, kina in the kupeka and mau rākau.
A huge mihi to the organisers and everyone involved in Taurite Tū.
And also to Caleb Hōnetana Productions for these beautiful photographs.
