Iwi of Origin

‘Kei ngā rangatira o te āpōpō, nau mai ki te papa tū waewae. He ahurei ā tau whakanui ai i te waioranga o te iwi Māori o Tāmaki Makaurau.

To the leaders of tomorrow, welcome to your place. To our celebration of wellbeing for Māori.’

Iwi of Origin is the annual Tāmaki Makaurau inter iwi festival that celebrates whakapapa, whānau and wellbeing through physical activity in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Iwi of Origin 2025 marks the 18th year of promoting health and wellbeing among urban Māori through accessible sports and physical activity, as Māori, with Māori, for Māori.

Whether you’re living in Tāmaki or outside the rohe, there is a place for all whānau Māori and those who whakapapa Māori at Iwi of Origin: rōpū whānau; rōpū hapū/marae/iwi; rōpū hapori; and rōpū matawhānui.

At Iwi of Origin, whānau, marae and hapū come together to represent their iwi through ancestral games, traditional games, contemporary sports and activities. The event works closely with tangata whaikaha services to ensure the kaupapa is accessible through adaptive sports, mobility support and inclusive design.

We are calling you back in 2025. Tū tangata mai, tū Māori mai.

Date and time

Saturday 18 October 2025: 0900-1800

Location

Bruce Pulman Park, Takanini
view map

We acknowledge the support and cultural leadership of Ngāti Tamaoho Trust, who guide the tikanga and ceremonial aspects of the event, including the pōwhiri and other culturally significant practices. Their presence ensures the kaupapa is grounded in respect, connection, and mātauranga Māori.

We also recognise and honour the contributions of our event partners, whose leadership and participation continue to strengthen the cultural and community foundations of Iwi of Origin.

This event is made possible through the support of:

• Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa
• Foundation North
• Auckland Council.

We acknowledge and appreciate the mahi of our programme partners, whose collaboration and commitment are essential to the planning and delivery of Iwi of Origin. Their expertise and dedication help ensure the event runs smoothly and reflects the values of kaupapa Māori.

In 2025, the 18th year of Iwi of Origin, we are in the third phase of our 5-year-plan, Te Whakaoranga - The Revitalisation. After two years of building a solid foundation in Tāmaki Makaurau, we are now looking to whānau across the motu to give new life to Iwi of Origin and sustain it for generations to come.

This year we are focused on nurturing the whanaunga cultivated over the years to create pathways for future generations to engage and carry the kaupapa forward. We also look beyond our whānau in Tāmaki Makaura, to the rest of the motu to improve health outcomes for whānau across Aotearoa.

A range of activities are offered at Iwi of Origin, from mainstream sports like rugby, netball, basketball, touch, football and league, to uniquely Māori formats such as ngā taonga takaro, ancestral games, Urutomo and ki o rahi. These serve as vehicles for movement, connection, and cultural pride.

We are fortunate to have the following programme partners supporting Iwi of Origin 2025 and we thank them for their involvement:

Together, we stand in kotahitanga to uplift Māori wellbeing, identity, and connection through sport, ngā taonga takaro and kaupapa Māori.

The Iwi of Origin logo is titled “Tāmaki Herenga Waka” and refers to Māori being united under the umbrella of Tāmaki.

Tāmaki is represented by Rangitoto Maunga (in green); also seen as the “tumu” or “pou” in the whakatauki “tumu herenga waka” – a post where all waka are tied to.

The wave at the bottom represents the rope used to tie all the waka to Tāmaki.

The Poutama colours represent “tino Rangatiratanga.”  The Poutama also represents a “dias” which, in sporting terms, represents Māori achieving in sport and recreation and the hard work and determination required to get to the top as seen in Tawhakis / Tanes journey to get the baskets of knowledge.

Keep up to date with the latest on Iwi of Origin via our social media channels below.

You can also email iwioforigin@aktive.org.nz