Sports group seeks Games Council membership

Tu Tangata, Issue 1, 1 August 1981, Page 32

Sports group seeks Games Council membership

A delegation from the New Zealand Maori Sports Federation travelled to Honiara, Soloman Islands, last month to seek membership to the South Pacific Games Council. The council is made up of about 20 South Pacific countries, excluding New Zealand and Australia. The federation’s delegation met with the council on July 6. It included federation chairman, Dr Henare Broughton; federation deputy chairman and past president of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, Mr Frankie Dennise; legal advisor,

Miss Pauline Kingi and former New Zealand netball representative, Mrs June Mariu. While in Honiara, the group met delegates attending the first mini South Pacific Games, held from July 5 to 16, and saw how the games were run. Dr Broughton said there has already been considerable interest shown by Maoris to take part in the games. “This has been acknowledged by the New Zealand Maori Council and the Maori Women’s Welfare League,’’ he said. He said it. would provide an incentive

for Maoris to take part in amateur sports in this country both at club and provincial level. The New Zealand Maori Sports Federation was set up last year after Dr Broughton attended the 1979 South Pacific Games. It was established under the authority of the New Zealand Maori Council. Its aims are to inform, through the media and Maori organisations, what cultural, sport and recreational facilities are available. It gives advice on fitness training, organised sports venues and advises on funding for these activities.