THIS EXHIBITION HAS NOW CLOSED 

Tamaki Gallery, Ground Floor
Open daily, 10am – 5pm
October 2011 - 26 February 2012
FREE entry

Ake Ake Kia Kaha: The Spirit of Māori Rugby features exclusive personal interviews with famous New Zealand Māori rugby team players and powerful objects from the collections. You will leave the exhibition with a deeper understanding of the unique character and contribution Māori have made to transform the international game of rugby.

Ake, Ake, Kia, Kaha

Ake, Ake, Ake, Kia! Kaha! was emblazoned on a 1904 Britain v. New Zealand rugby tour badge which features in the exhibition. Ake, Ake, Kia, Kaha translates as ‘forever and ever be strong’. It was also the haka performed by the New Zealand “Natives” team on their endurance-testing 14-month tour, which began in 1888 and saw them play in Australia, Egypt and the British Isles.

Interviews with Māori players

The film at the centre of exhibition features interviews with Māori players from teams spanning the last five decades, from current All Black Hosea Gear to Buck Shelford, Tane Norton and Muru Walters. It also explores the lure of the game, and the international tours and matches that had a lasting impact on the players.

Watch player interviews on Youtube

The Māori team jersey

Hosea Gear’s Te Ao Hou “The New Dawn” centenary jersey, celebrating 100 years of Māori rugby, is also on display. The centenary jersey was designed by Māori artist Dave Burke who also designed the artwork in the exhibition.

Former All Black captain Buck Shelford speaks with pride about wearing the legendary Māori team jersey: ‘When you put your jersey on, and then you do that haka, you’re representing a lot of people ... all those people that have worn that jersey before ... you’re only a caretaker of the jersey.’

Read about Te Ao Hōu “The New Dawn” centenary jersey (PDF)

Famous rugby mini souvenir ball

The exhibition also features a souvenir ball signed by George Nepia, game badges and the Prince of Wales Cup which the Prince presented to the Māori side after impressive play during a tour of Australia, Ceylon, France, Canada and Great Britain in 1927. It was during this same tour the French were said to have adopted the Māori style of game play and the Māori team’s dynamic style continues to influence the game.

View the online exhibition »