Bunnings enters new partnership with Māori Touch Nationals
Māori Touch NZ is proud to announce the start of a new partnership with Bunnings as primary partner and naming rights sponsor of the annual Māori Touch Nationals tournament. The Bay of Plenty based competition sees over 50 teams come together to represent their hapū, rohe, iwi and takiwā and compete on the touch field. The event also hosts a Pō Whakangahau where whānau celebrate their māoritanga by performing their waiata and haka.
Māori Touch Nationals has been a well-known fixture on the Touch calendar since 1998. The tournament caters to all grades, including Rangatahi, Pakeke and Open. Finney Davis, Māori Touch NZ Chairperson, says, “We are looking forward to this next phase of our journey and building our partnership with Bunnings who shares our vision and commitment to developing Touch for Māori whānau.”
Davis says the tournament is, “Proudly and unapologetically Māori. All whānau have an opportunity to represent their hapū, rohe, iwi, and takiwā competing on the Touch field, and performing kapa haka off the field.”
Davis continues, “It is a tournament for Māori, by Māori, and having Bunnings on board contributes to the support we need to honour that whakaaro and commitment. He ra ā ki tua.”
Melissa Haines, Country Manager for Bunnings New Zealand, says, “We’re pleased to be partnering with Māori Touch Nationals for the upcoming tournament. We share common values in putting our community first and developing the sport from a local level. Our team is looking forward to getting involved in the partnership and supporting the tournament in Rotorua.”
The 2023 Māori Touch Nationals will be held in Rotorua from the 2nd - 3rd of December. Taonga will be awarded to each of grade winners and the best male and female player, referee of the tournament, the best & fairest rohe and rohe of the tournament will also be recognised.
Bunnings Warehouse has been the Principal Partner of Touch NZ since 2018. During this time, the sport has experienced an increase in membership, growing support from the community and a positive boost to the overall experience of the game. Now, Bunnings is proud to sponsor the 2023 Māori Touch Nationals.
