2026 National Māori Sport & Recreation Conference *SOLD OUT*
Description
PLEASE NOTE, THIS CONFERENCE IS SOLD OUT.
The venue is at full capacity. No additional tickets will be sold. Thank you for your interest in this kaupapa.
If you would like to be added to the waitlist in case of any ticket cancellations, please click the 'contact host' link above to submit your request.
Hawaiiki Mokopuna – A future that demands we transform how we think, lead and govern Māori sport.
Hawaiiki Mokopuna is the guiding kaupapa for our 2026 National Māori Sport & Recreation Conference. It is the future state we are deliberately navigating toward - a Māori-defined, Māori-governed system of sport and recreation where our mokopuna can thrive as Māori while pursuing excellence. Hawaiki Mokopuna requires our collective commitment to transform Māori sport and recreation so that our mokopuna inherit systems that celebrate their identity, activate their culture, and allow them to achieve excellence on Māori terms.
This conference is a kaupapa Māori-led space that centres tikanga, mātauranga Māori and cultural identity as the foundation for how we think about sport and recreation - now and for future generations.
Across two days, we will wānanga how Māori participation, leadership and innovation can be strengthened by:
Highlighting how identity and cultural connection enables Māori to thrive at any performance level
Understanding inequities and biases within current sporting systems
Re-shaping how we understand what it means to be an athlete
Strengthening a network of people and services committed to the same outcome of a better world for our mokopuna
Through kōrero, breakout sessions, outdoor activities and interactive experiences, this conference aims to move beyond westernised formats to create space for whakaaro hou, connection and collective learning.
This conference is proudly sponsored by Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa, supporting sport and recreation in Aotearoa.
Introducing Our First Speaker Line-Up...
We are proud to bring together a collective of cultural leaders, high-performance athletes, system shapers and Indigenous thinkers who are actively transforming sport and recreation across Aotearoa.
These are the first of many powerful voices joining us in 2026.
TE WEHI WRIGHT | Te Arawa, Ngāruahinerangi, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Ngāti Whitikaupeka and Te Rarawa
Pou Tikanga, Māori All Blacks | Cultural Strategist & Lawyer
Exploring how tikanga Māori and authentic cultural systems unlock high-performance excellence — and the responsibility of elite sport to lead cultural integrity and transformation.
DR SALLY RYE | Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Te Arawa
Māori Health Practitioner | Founder, The GUTLab Aotearoa
Exploring Rongo ā Puku – an Indigenous gut–brain framework that positions the puku as a source of intelligence shaping wellbeing. Dr Rye blends mātauranga Māori and biomedical science to support whānau to reclaim their hauora through culturally grounded, holistic practice.
PROFESSOR MEIHANA DURIE | Ngāti Kauwhata, Ngāti Raukawa, Rangitāne, Ngāti Porou, Rongo Whakaata, Ngāi Tahu
Indigenous Education Leader | Indigenous Systems and High Performance Strategist
Exploring how Indigenous leadership can reshape interconnected systems and unlock iho pūmanawa in rangatahi Māori. Professor Durie will present a framework grounded in mana and self-determination, applicable across Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Whānui.
TAKOHA ROPATI | Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Ranginui, Hāmoa
Māori Sport Leader | Ngāti Hine Touch
Ko te tuakiritanga te ahotangaingai ki te angitū. How strong cultural identity and Ngāti Hine connection unlock descendant potential through sport.
JOE WEBBER | Ngāti Ranginui, Raukawa
Olympian | All Blacks Sevens
Panellist discussion; Let's chat about high-performance sport, reo Māori reclamation, rangatahi, mahinga kai & te taiao.
JORDON WEBBER | Ngāti Ranginui, Raukawa
World Rugby Sevens Series Representative
Panellist discussion; Let's chat about high-performance sport, reo Māori reclamation, rangatahi, mahinga kai & te taiao.
REIHANA SOUTAR | Ngāti Porou
NZ Open Men’s Touch Representative | Physiotherapist | Māori Partnerships Lead, Habit Health
He Ara Whakatipu: Growing through the system to influence the system. From athlete to clinician to advocate, reshaping high-performance sport through hauora and Māori frameworks.
ERIN ROXBURGH | Ngāti Porou
National Handball Representative | Lecturer & PhD Candidate, Te Herenga Waka | Women in Sport Aotearoa Board member
For our wāhine, for our mokopuna: Redesigning sport from within.
TIHINI GRANT | Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue
Cultural Practitioner
Tihini Grant is a champion of tikanga Māori and te reo Māori, dedicated to protecting, advancing, and sharing the mātauranga passed down by his kōeke. With expertise across television, film, mau rākau, rongoā and moko, Tihini uplifts Māori identity and knowledge through leadership, advocacy, and lived example - ensuring these taonga thrive for generations to come.
Conference Details
The conference will formally open with a pōwhiri at 8:30AM at Te Aronui-a-Rua Marae, Te Puia.
We hope that all delegates will be present to uphold the tikanga and collective opening of this kaupapa.
Delegate Registrations will be open:
Sunday 22nd – times to be confirmed
Monday 23rd – times to be confirmed
(Confirmed times will be shared with registered delegates via email)
Full Programme details will be shared with registered delegates in the lead-up to the conference.
Tickets include;
All kai - daily morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea
Evening networking event entry - cocktail style dinner & welcome drink
Delegate bag - note book, pen & other taonga
Discounted accommodation
Please note, there may be additional costs for some optional activities.
Travel and accommodation is not included.
Stay Connected
For programme updates, final speaker announcements & activities to come;
Connect to the kaupapa and join our mailing list here: https://mailchi.mp/210d2072ac4f/mori-sport-rec-conference-2026
OR
Follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/maorisportreconf?igsh=MTZ3d2tjZGs5czN4bQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
FAQs
- What does the theme, Hawaiki Mokopuna, mean?
Hawaiki Mokopuna is the Māori-controlled future where our mokopuna thrive as Māori - in sport and in life. Hawaiki Mokopuna requires our collective commitment to transform Māori sport and recreation so that our mokopuna inherit systems that celebrate their identity, activate their culture, and allow them to achieve excellence on Māori terms.
Hawaiki Mokopuna is the future state where Māori sport and recreation is not merely Māori-faced but Māori-governed, Māori-resourced, Māori-directed while operating from Māori ideology, not colonial frameworks
Mokopuna makes this:
Intergenerational
Legacy-based
Responsibility-driven
Hawaiki Mokopuna asks what if that was not a sacrifice, but a higher form of excellence?
Whenua outlasts careers
Marae outlast medals
Many of our best athletes choose to serve their people instead of climbing professional ladders
A marae leader, a kapa haka tutor, a whānau champion – under Hawaiki Mokopuna, these are also elite performers.
In this conference, Hawaiki Mokopuna is:
The collective commitment to transform Māori sport and recreation so that our mokopuna inherit systems that celebrates their identity, activates their culture, and allows them to achieve excellence on Māori terms.
It is:
Governance
Coaching
Athlete pathways
Healing
Identity
Resource control
Language
Definitions of success
All being aligned toward that future destination.
- Who is the conference for?
The conference is open to anyone working in or connected to:
Sport and recreation
Hauora and wellbeing
Iwi, hapū and community organisations
Education and rangatahi development
Local and central government
Researchers, students, and practitioners
Māori and non-Māori are welcome
- What can I expect in the programme?
This conference aims to move beyond westernised formats and will include a variety of keynote speakers, panel discussions, breakout sessions and workshops. These including outdoor activities, kaupapa Māori-led kōrero and wānanga.
- Will the full programme be available before the conference?
Āe! Speaker announcements will be shared ahead of the event. Be sure to follow our social media and/or mail list for updates - links in description.
- Will some sessions overlap and run at the same time?
Āe. This will ensure that there is something for everyone, allowing you to choose based on your interests.
- Is the venue accessible?
Āe, the main spaces at the venue are wheelchair accessible. Some outdoor areas used for activities may be more challenging to navigate. If you have specific accessibility requirements, please contact the organisers so we can support you.
- What are the accommodation options?
Rotorua offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit different budgets and preferences. Once your ticket has been issued, you will be sent a discount code for a selection of local accommodation providers. Please note that accommodation costs are not included in the ticket price.
- Is there a student ticket rate available?
Āe! We have a limited number of student tickets available. Proof of student status is required on ticket purchase.
- Can I transfer or cancel my registration?
Āe! Any changes or transfers to registrations must be made directly with the event organisers at least 5 days prior to the event. All cancellations must be made at least 14 days prior to the event.
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