SPORTS Many Maori women today are reaching the top ranks in the principal women's sports in New Zealand. Reviewing the last season, we find that Maori women have reached prominence in softball, basketball, hockey, table-tennis and skiing.

WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Maoris are in many of the North Island Provincial teams, and the Hawkes Bay and Poverty Bay provincial teams have a majority of Maoris. In Wellington, Elva Love, Moana Katene and Margaret Mariu were in the provincial team. Both Elva Love and Jane Maxwell (from Auckland) were in the North Island team playing in Invercargill last season. Most of the girls playing hockey learn while at secondary school and play in the ordinary affiliated clubs, although there is a Maori sub-association in Poverty Bay and Hawkes Bay. In Wellington there are two teams (Toa and Konini) affiliated to the national body but consisting of Maoris only.

SOFTBALL: Here too, there have been some Maori women in provincial games last year, notably Mrs Rangi Miller, Wellington provincial representative who for the last three years has also played for the North Island team against South Island. The next provincial tournament will be at Invercargill in January.

TABLE-TENNIS: Not many Maoris enter this sport competitively, although it would be suitable for country halls in winter time. So far, the greatest prominence was reached by Tuini Evans, who won every junior event in the national championships at Napier, as well as the Waikato open championship and the Davis Cup, Whangarei. The Maori Golf Association's national tournament in Gisborne resulted in new champions winning both the men's and women's titles. In the men's division M. J. Phillips from Te Awamutu came from behind to win his match with T. Webster, of Otaki, on the nineteenth green. In the women's division Mrs P. Kaua, of Gisborne, defeated Mrs D. J. Wilkie, of Wanganui. Two Auckland teams (Aotearoa and Maori Community Centre) compete for the basketball championship during the Coronation hui at Turangawaewae. (Photograph: Peter Blanc.)

CORONATION SPORTS AT TURANGAWAEWAE: The Coronation Shield for rugby was won by Tuwharetoa (Taupo) against Maniapoto 17–3. Tuhourangi (Rotorua) won the Te Pokaia Cup, with the right to challenge next year for the Coronation shield. Aotearoa (Auckland) won both the A and the B grade basketball.

HAWKES BAY RUGBY: A Maori Rugby Advisory Board has been formed in Hawke's Bay. Its object is to foster Maori rugby in the district. The board was formed at a meeting at McLean Park, Napier, which was presided over by Mr N. A. McKenzie, chairman of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union Management Committee. The meeting agreed to a constitution which still has to be ratified by the annual meeting of the provincial union. The new Hawke's Bay Maori Rugby Advisory Board comprises two delegates from each of the five sub-unions within Hawke's Bay province; two delegates from the Napier area; one appointee from the Hawke's Bay management committee, and the provincial delegate to the New Zealand Maori Advisory Board. Those already appointed are: Dannevirke: Messrs Wi Walker and K. Pene; Central: Messrs G. Marsden (chairman) and R. Rupuha; Hastings: Messrs G. Randell (secretary) and C. Pankhurst (treasurer); Wairoa: Messrs T. Ormond and T. Gemmell; Taupo: Bishop Panapa; New Zealand Maori Rugby Advisory Board member, Mr T. Mihaere (Dannevirke). A selection panel, which will replace Mr Mihaere as sole Hawke's Bay selector was formed. Members are: Messrs Wi Walker, G. Randell, T. Gemmell.