Name & Surname: Werner Bosch
Student No: 57683492
AFL1501 Assignment 3
Unique Code: 623425
Kia Ora or Rā Pai Students and Lectures.
The culture I will be sharing with you is the Maori culture. The ceremony I will be
sharing about is a Maori Welcoming ceremony. Bit of background to the events that
lead to the special ceremony. I arrived in New Zealand in 2018. Being a previous
professional rugby player in South Africa, I went to NZ in search of job opportunities.
Being an avid rugby player and being in a country that is crazy about rugby it was a
“no brainer” to go and play some ‘footy’. I first started at Pakaranga rugby club based
in Auckland. Later on I got a new job in Hamilton, in the Waikato region. This is a
region rich in Maori culture. I joined the rugby club, Hamilton old boys, a club rich in
culture and tradition and one of the oldest rugby clubs in NZ.
By now you are wondering what has rugby and my journey in NZ to do with this
assignment and the ceremony. Well, in New Zealand they have a very strict policy
about foreign rugby players playing in their First and Second XV. They believe in
promoting their own countries players and giving them the first opportunity to play at
the highest level. Their neighbouring countries share in a Polynesian culture, Samoa,
Fiji and Tonga. They then get “second” pick. Therefore you will see very little South
Africans, Australians, Americans or European player in their National or Provincial
side.
I was very blessed and fortunate to receive the opportunity to play for the club’s First
XV. Only in recent times the Rangatira’s (Chiefs) of the countries tribes and the Iwi
(People) of each region of the country, lifted this strong rule by allowing one foreign
player for each team. I was privileged to receive this one spot.
Before the season started we had a naming and capping ceremony for both the First
and Second XV. This ceremony lead to the Maori welcoming ceremony. The club,
board of directors, players and staff welcomed myself and a fellow foreign player
with an informal Maori welcoming ceremony. This was to welcome us to Aotearoa
(New Zealand) and to welcome us to the club and their culture. This is cultural to
welcome someone new to their, in this case, whanau (family).
The following is about a Maori welcoming ceremony. The following is a brief
explanation of the events and order of how the ceremony happened.
• Whakatau: a Maori welcoming similar to a powhiri. Which is less formal and
more flexible. This is different to the “TRADITIONAL WELCOMING
CEREMONY” of Maori culture. Given the event (rugby capping) is informal it
was not required for the traditional clothing or dances.
The aspects that remains constant across both forms are:
• Tikanga – Values and principals.
Two key principals are:
Student No: 57683492
AFL1501 Assignment 3
Unique Code: 623425
Kia Ora or Rā Pai Students and Lectures.
The culture I will be sharing with you is the Maori culture. The ceremony I will be
sharing about is a Maori Welcoming ceremony. Bit of background to the events that
lead to the special ceremony. I arrived in New Zealand in 2018. Being a previous
professional rugby player in South Africa, I went to NZ in search of job opportunities.
Being an avid rugby player and being in a country that is crazy about rugby it was a
“no brainer” to go and play some ‘footy’. I first started at Pakaranga rugby club based
in Auckland. Later on I got a new job in Hamilton, in the Waikato region. This is a
region rich in Maori culture. I joined the rugby club, Hamilton old boys, a club rich in
culture and tradition and one of the oldest rugby clubs in NZ.
By now you are wondering what has rugby and my journey in NZ to do with this
assignment and the ceremony. Well, in New Zealand they have a very strict policy
about foreign rugby players playing in their First and Second XV. They believe in
promoting their own countries players and giving them the first opportunity to play at
the highest level. Their neighbouring countries share in a Polynesian culture, Samoa,
Fiji and Tonga. They then get “second” pick. Therefore you will see very little South
Africans, Australians, Americans or European player in their National or Provincial
side.
I was very blessed and fortunate to receive the opportunity to play for the club’s First
XV. Only in recent times the Rangatira’s (Chiefs) of the countries tribes and the Iwi
(People) of each region of the country, lifted this strong rule by allowing one foreign
player for each team. I was privileged to receive this one spot.
Before the season started we had a naming and capping ceremony for both the First
and Second XV. This ceremony lead to the Maori welcoming ceremony. The club,
board of directors, players and staff welcomed myself and a fellow foreign player
with an informal Maori welcoming ceremony. This was to welcome us to Aotearoa
(New Zealand) and to welcome us to the club and their culture. This is cultural to
welcome someone new to their, in this case, whanau (family).
The following is about a Maori welcoming ceremony. The following is a brief
explanation of the events and order of how the ceremony happened.
• Whakatau: a Maori welcoming similar to a powhiri. Which is less formal and
more flexible. This is different to the “TRADITIONAL WELCOMING
CEREMONY” of Maori culture. Given the event (rugby capping) is informal it
was not required for the traditional clothing or dances.
The aspects that remains constant across both forms are:
• Tikanga – Values and principals.
Two key principals are:
