The Māori have had a wonderful record of beating international touring teams over the years. In 1983 they visited Britain and a side containing future Kiwis stars like Hugh McGahan, Dean Bell and Clayton Friend proved too strong for the amateur opposition they played. For many years, the Māori have competed in the Pacific Cup alongside other teams with a strong presence of New Zealand-based players—Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands, so they thought it was right they should have the opportunity to follow these teams to the World Cup. The invitation to the Māori to take part in the 2000 World Cup came about as a result of promises made to them by the defunct Super League International Board at the height of the Super League war that tore the game apart in the southern hemisphere.

 

The historic waka (canoe) Te Winika, seen here on the Waikato River in 1971, was restored by a team of carvers led by Piri Poutapu in the 1930s. Poutapu, who had a carving school at Tūrangawaewae marae, researched Waikato carving styles and carved the bow, figurehead, sternpost and sides. In 1973 the Māori queen, Dame Te Ātairangikaahu, gifted Te Winika to Waikato Museum.

Steven Adams (born 28 July 1993) is a New Zealand professional basketball player who currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After playing college basketball for the Pittsburgh Panthers, he was labeled a top international prospect for the NBA.^[1] Adams was selected by the Thunder with the 12th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft
His father, Sid Adams, was an Englishman who settled in New Zealand after serving in the Royal Navy. Steven was the youngest of Sid's 18 children with five different women; his mother is Tongan. Steven's siblings and half-siblings are notable for their unusual size and athletic prowess. Adam's brothers average 6'9" (2.06 m), and his sisters average 6' (1.83 m).^[2]
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nga waka taua o Tainui

As an ex-kaihoe (paddler) of nga waka taua o Tainui (war canoes of tainui.) It .felt like a huge honour and privelege to rowing those big
waka up and down the the waikato river. For our ariki then and now. now our king and geusts. The names of the t