One of Auckland's largest Maori sporting events, Iwi of Origin, has a new home.
Unitec's Mount Albert campus grounds will host up to 1200 competitors from throughout the country in October.
The director of the Maia Centre and Maori Student and Community Engagement at Unitec, Carol Ngawati, says the chance to host Iwi of Origin at Unitec's Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae provides stronger community connections to the wharenui and the history of the area.
Wiremu Mato, the kaihautu (leader) at He Oranga Poutama, says the major Maori sporting event will also help rekindle kinship ties with other iwi, hapu and whanau.
The Maori sports competitors can expect to meet people they did not realise were from their iwi, and people who they did not know were Maori or had Maori whakapapa, Mr Mato says.
Events at Iwi of Origin include golf, touch, netball, squash, ki-o-rahi, the amazing Maori race and a huge haka-off held at the prizegiving.
