A MAORI welcome led by King Te Arikinui Tuheitia Paki has brought Fiji Airways Fiji 7s rugby captain Kalioni Nasoko closer to home.
The welcome ceremony held at the Turangawaewae marae at Ngaruawahia, the seat of the Maori King movement involved the 16 captains of teams who will battle for the HSBC Hamilton 7s title this weekend.
Turangawaewae – literally ‘a place to stand’ – was built in the 1920s under the direction of Te Puea Herangi, granddaughter of the second Maori king.
The skippers were heralded with a traditional welcoming ceremony and moving speeches by the chiefs of the Maori community in Hamilton at the marae.
Following the ceremony, Nasoko spoke of how he was moved and motivated by the inspirational history behind the marae, which is 98 years old.
He understood the importance of culture to the Maori people and their spiritual connection to the marae and he felt at home because of the similarities with the itaukei culture.
But it also made him ponder on the task at hand and the national duty they would have to perform over 48 hours on Saturday and Sunday for the people of Fiji.
“Na vosa e tau vei keimami kei na veiqaraqaravi e rui bibi na kena ibalebale. E vakaraitaka na bibi ni nodra maroroya na nodra itovo na Maori. “Na nodra itovo na Maori e vakataki keda na iTaukei, na kena bibi vei keda. E tautauvata na kena dredre vei keda na noda maroroya na noda itovo vakavanua. “Au vuli vakalevu kina. Au na qito vinaka meu liutaki iratou na timi baleta qo na timi ni noda vanua,”Nasoko said in itaukei.
Basically, he said, the traditional welcome and the speeches highlighted how the Maori held culture and traditions of significant value- the same way as the itaukei. Nasoko said the welcome ceremony was educational for him and it motivated him to play to his best ability in leading the national team.
