Lizard News DECEMBER 2019
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Te Puna • Whakamārama • Matakana Is • Ōmokoroa • Pahoia • Apata • Aongatete • Katikati • Tahāwai • Bowentown • Athenree • Waihī Beach
Te Puna rugby’s international reputation goes down by one By Beth Bowden It took eight years of planning, a huge amount of aroha, and a lot of translation of te reo into la langue francaise, but the epic return matches between Club Ovarlarc of Puyloubiers, Aix-enProvence, and Te Puna have now taken place. And the honours are even. Te Puna won in France in 2015. But the French beat them on the sacred ground of Māramatanga Park, on Saturday 26th October – the only defeat the triumphant club suffered in its centennial season.
Les Pīkaokao – the Roosters – arrived in Te Puna on Friday 25th October, and were welcomed on to Paparoa Marae with a full pōwhiri. The deeply moving pōwhiri kōrero made it clear that international connections between the only French/Maori community in the world were alive and well. Mayor Garry Webber supported Kaumātua of Pirirākau, and Fabrice Bernard spoke for Le Wīwīs, who had specially prepared and practised waiata suitable for the occasion. The rugby game, the next day, showed that the competition was also a lively
one. In a shortened game against the Te Puna Golden Oldies, and with some specially adapted and kinder-to-all rules, the fitter and faster Frenchmen won. The score is unimportant. Some wonderful short videos of the match are to be found at Brown Dog Media on Facebook, (facebook.com/kurimedia) .Especially recommended: the postdated 31st October “Rugby, a Gentlemans game – Salute”. Le rugby était vraiment le vainqueur du jour. The after-party at the Rugby Club involved a generous helping of French wine and gourmet treats from our
French friends, as well as much dancing under the large marquee before the All Blacks backed us out of the World Cup. Les Pīkaokao also enjoyed the manaakitanga of a guided walk around Mauao, a swim in the hot pools, and a memorable Sunday visit to Matakana Island before a short poroporoaki at St Joseph’s Church. Te Puna is the richer for their visit. The first of many, we hope. L-R: Rawiri Kuka from Te Puna Golden Oldies chasing the ball, along with Graham Bidois Cameron and Fabrice Bernard (headgear). PHOTO: Aiden Kuka. More images on Page 23.