Te Papa Tākaro o Te Arawa hope to forge stronger links with Tahiti when they take a delegation to participate in the Heiva festival this July. The group will be focused on the Polynesian games section of the festival, which includes coconut tree climbing and stone lifting.
Stephen Te Moni of Te Papa Takaro o Te Arawa says that they have been running workshops showcasing these particular games the concept of these games was taken from Tahiti. He will be part of a delegation from Rotorua that will compete in the Heiva festival next month.
"It's the 12th year of the games and we have been in preparation mode. It's difficult, over there it's summer, but here it's winter. It's snowy with hail storms, so it's hard but we are feeling positive," Te Moni says.
Te Moni attended the festival last year. He says that the games are based on traditional customs.
The Heiva festival begins on July the 7th.