In a powerful display of Māori rugby pride and kotahitanga, Taranaki has claimed a historic victory to secure the coveted Tuera Shield. The match, more than just a sporting contest, served as a vibrant celebration of nearly a century of tradition and iwi excellence in rugby.
The historical weight of the Tuera Shield is best highlighted by Alan Davis (Ngā Rauru), deputy chair of Taranaki Māori Rugby and Te Tini a Māui delegate for Taranaki.
“I suppose the history of that, it comes from our whanau down in Whanganui up the river. Where I think what I believe was promoted was like, back in the day when it first came out like the Ranfurly shield of Māori rugby,” Alan said.
Stephen Berg from New Zealand Rugby Museum knows all the histroy regarding the Tuera Shield and the regional rivalry between clubs.
“It is 99 years almost to the day since the Tuera shield was first introduced, Manawatū Māori are up here challenging Taranaki Māori and unfortunately Taranaki have pulled off the big win,” Stephen said. “The Tuera Shield was first introduced to be the ultimate prize for any province up and down New Zealand.”
He taonga tukuiho te Hīra Whutupōro o Tuera
Ehara tēnei i te kēmu whutupaoro noa; he huihuinga whakahirahira tēnei hei whakanui i te tata ki te kotahi rau tau o ngā tikanga me te ihi o te iwi Māori ki te tākaro whutupōro i te Tai Hauāuru.
Ki a Matua John Hooker (Ngaruahine) te kaumātua o Taranaki Whutupōro Māori tētehi o ngā kaitākaro o mua, tētehi o ngā heamana o mua. “Kua tākaro au ki roto i ngā tīma o Taranaki ki Whanganui mō te Tuera i taua wā kaore mātou i toa, a muri ake ki tena ko au te kaiako o te tīma i toa mātou mō tēnā, ko au hoki te tiamana mō te Taranaki Māori Rugby Football union i ngā wā i toa mātou hoki,” hei tā Matua John anō.
“Taranaki ko mātou te kai pupuri o taua taonga i ēnei wā, ā, e mihi ana ki to mātou tīma a tīma toa.” He tohu tēnei i tōna hiahia kia kite i te hīra e noho tonu ana ki tōna kainga tūturu.