ABOUT THE RESEARCH
This one-year (2019–2020) scoping research project was led by Professor Jenny Lee-Morgan and Dr Jenifer Martin. Funded by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, the research included interviews with 28 people: organisers; teachers; umpires; coaches; parents; and students (players). A total of 14 students ranging in age from 10 years old to 17 years old, from three different schools were involved.

PUNI REO: NORMALISING TE REO MĀORI
Puni Reo is an innovative Māori language initiative that creates safe spaces to speak Māori, centred on a specific event or purpose – in this case, netball. The aim of Puni Reo is to normalise Māori language by promoting te reo in everyday activities and in all the places we live, work and play. The Puni Reo initiative was led by Eruera Lee-Morgan, Senior Advisor Te Puni Kōkiri, Tāmaki Makaurau. Inspired by the concept of a puni (a camp), Puni Reo Poitarawhiti (PRP) sets up a Māori language site for practicing, playing, coaching, and participating in netball. While PRP is a relatively new initiative, it has the potential to develop in other sports codes and other regions throughout Aotearoa.

WHAT IS PUNI REO POITARAWHITI?
Puni Reo Poitarawhiti is a recently introduced community-led initiative with the potential to become a regular feature in te reo Māori calendar in Tāmaki Makaurau. Supported by Te Puni Kōkiri, Netball Waitakere and Te Taura Whiri, PRP has opened ‘new’ spaces for te reo Māori to be spoken, and in this case ‘played’, in the context of netball. Normalising te reo Māori on the netball courts is a significant development for our young people, and to be celebrated.

PUNI REO POITARAWHITI
In May 2018, the inaugural Puni Reo Poitarawhiti (PRP) was held at Netball Waitakere, West Auckland. The first Māori-language-only netball tournament of its kind, PRP was open to all schools in the Auckland region. The first PRP attracted 550 girls and boys (60 teams), ranging in age from 11 to 17 years old. In total, 22 schools participated – the majority (95.5%) of these schools were either Kura Kaupapa Māori or schools with Māori immersion units or classes. The following year, the number of schools continued to increase. In 2020, unfortunately PRP was postponed due to Covid-19. However, we are very excited to see PRP has resumed in 2021, back at Netball Waitakere, and over subscribed!!