How to play: Ki O Rahi

We have been learning Ki O Rahi
(A Maori traditional game) in P.E and today
I’m going to teach you how to play.

Roles/Team Roles

Taniwha -  The team that scores by hitting tupu with the ball -
When taniwha are in possession of the ball, their aim is to score by
throwing the ki at the tupu from the te roto zone.

Kioma - The team that scores touch-downs - When kioma are in possession
of the ball, their aim is to collect pou to accumulate points, and convert these points to a
score by touching the ball down in pawero (the centre circle).

Kioma also needs to defend the tupu from attack by the taniwha.

Kaitiaki - The Kioma team may allocate two guards to stand within
pawero and protect tupu from attack by the taniwha team.

Equipment

Ki - The Ki is the ball that is used for Ki O Rahi.

Traditionally, Ki were made from woven flax, but in modern times the
Ki tends to be a small rubber ball.

Tupu - In Ki O Rahi, the tupu is the name given to the bin or drum in the middle
of the centre circle.

Pou - The Ki O Rahi field has seven pou or arranged in a circle around the perimeter of the field.
Players collect pou by touching them, before converting the pou touches to points

Field

Pawero - Pawero is the name given to the centre circle, in which the tupu sits, and
in which the kioma team scores touchdowns.

Te Roto - Te Roto is the name given to the outer circle, surrounding pawero.
Taniwha throw the ball from this area to try and hit tupu.

Te Ao - Te Ao is the name given to the general field of play, surrounded by pou.

Te Ara - The pathway that links pawero (the inner circle), to Te Ao
(the general playing area. Kioma may only enter pawero via this pathway.

Te Marama - A designated area in Te Ao where the game starts from (restarts etc)

How To Play

Play is started from te Marama, with Kioma throw or kick the ki to a teammate in Pawero area.

They attempt to pass the ki to teammate who touches a pou (for a potential point)
then can touch more pou to accumulate more potential points or run it through te
roto then place the ki on or over the Pawero line to convert all pou touches into points on
the board. (this is the only time they can enter te roto).

Kioma can not go through or over te ara to score.

If a kioma player is “tagged” in te roto while trying to score it is a handover,
if they run into te roto and run or pass the ki back out without being touch they
retain possession but the pou touches are recounted.

Kioma scores and play restarts with a kick off from te Marama.

Out of bounds, the last team in possession hand over to the other team.

Taniwha scores by hitting the tupu with the ki and play carries on.

Jump shots may be allowed if the taniwha player jumps from te roto and releases the
ki before landing in Pawero, they must leave immediately and not affect play or Kioma gains possession.

Players in possession must be moving or they have 3-5 seconds to pass or shot or hand it over.

Players can not enter te ara, unless they are kioma moving between pawero and te ao.

Players may get the ki from other zones as long as part of their body stays in their legal zone,
Taniwha may take jump shots at the tupu as long as the ball is released before they touch the ground.
(some Iwi play no entering other zones or penalties may occur) This is called the Turangawaewae rule.