Grey skies and heavy rain didn’t stop or dampen the wairua (spirit) at the Pare Hauraki National Kaumātua Olympics held in Te Aroha on February 13. The event was hosted by Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki – Kaumātua Ora service, with support from kaimahi (staff) across the organisation. Te Aroha Maunga (mountain) stood cloaked in mist as rōpū kaumātua, or groups of competitors aged 55 and over, from Tamaki to Te Kuiti gathered at Silver Fern Farms Event Centre to battle through a series of game stations and a tie-breaking sing-and-dance-off.
