Te Wero is a competition involving clubs from Nuhaka, Mahia, Tamatea and Maraenui and was hosted by Maraenui Rugby and Sports Association this year.
Te Wero originated with a Maori soldier giving his German counterpart a taiaha. This was a sign of their mutual respect for each other. The German soldier, who was greatly impressed with the bravery, ferocity and skill of the Maori Battalion, later gifted the taiaha back to the Maori soldier. He believed the taiaha belonged back in New Zealand because his people would treasure and honour it with the mana and respect that it deserves - more than his people could.
The Maori soldier had links with all of the clubs mentioned above, and that is why they come together for competition and enjoyment of each other’s company at this annual tournament.
The Taiaha that is being played for was under the guidance of the 28th Maori Battalion and returned to NZ by one of the members of the Battalion. He had whakapapa links to the original participants which were Tamatea, Mahia, Poho(Porongahau) and Aotea(Dannevirke). In 1992 Otane replaced Poho and were replaced in 1999 by Maraenui. In 1994 Aotea were replaced by Waiau (Wairoa) who were replaced by Nuhaka in 1998.
The Te Wero tournament is important in the rugby landscape within Ngati Kahungunu.
It is one of the longest standing Maori club tournaments still in existence and the taonga that is being played for carries huge mana amongst Maoridom especially today as it symbolises the courage and the commitment our tupuna had to this country.