Latest news with #NgātiManiapoto
RNZ News
06-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Samoa Language Week: A Black Ferns sevens player's journey
Shiray Kaka in her traditional Samoan attire performing a Siva Samoa. Photo: Shiray Kaka Former Black Ferns sevens player Shirray Kaka says one of the reasons she is learning Samoan to pass on her heritage to her baby boy, who is due in August. Kaka first played for New Zealand's sevens team in 2013, and has an Olympic gold medal from the Tokyo Games. Her mother is Māori from Ngāti Maniapoto and her father is Samoan from the village of Moata'a. "Just growing up, my mum and dad were quite young when they had us, so they left their families quite early, so we didn't really have a chance to learn either Samoan or Māori, or be around our Samoan Māori family," she said. "So now that I'm pregnant, there's just this overwhelming feeling of learning Samoan and being able to gift the knowledge of our people to our son." Shiray Kaka and her Dog, whom she holds dearest to her heart. Photo: Shiray Kaka Kaka has been to Samoa once, and wants to go back, but she places a lot of importance on keeping language and culture alive for the next generation. "I don't know how to say it, but for me, it's one of the most important things in my life right now, especially seeing or just understanding how lost I felt without the language and without the culture," she said. "It's not just about going out and speaking every day. It's kind of just living out your culture as well. "My beautiful grandma... she's probably been my connection to Samoa since I was born just because of who she is as a person," Kaka said. "Everyone in her community knows her as the Samoan auntie." She said her grandmother is another motivation for her. "Before she gets too old as well, I want her to be proud of her Samoan granddaughter." She said she took her husband, Gillies - also a New Zealand sevens rep - over to Samoa in 2018. Shiray Kaka of New Zealand runs the ball during the HSBC Sydney Sevens women's pool A rugby match between New Zealand and Japan at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Saturday, January 28, 2023. (AAP Image/Steven Markham/ Photo: AAP / "It wasn't until I took my husband, Gillies, over to Samoa and I saw the plant plantation where my grandma used to get veggies and stuff from. I went to their homestead when my poppa used to live, and saw areas that they built, and just where they grew up, where my grandma grew up, and once I saw that, I felt such a connection to the place. "I guess seeing that made me want to do more for my people but in order to do more, I needed to do more work myself, first of all, to then give to other people." She said she wants to learn more about the tikanga of her culture. The Samoan word akin to that is aganuu. "So that I can then pass down, feel more connected and start teaching once I feel more comfortable." She attends lessons every Friday, which are tailored to her. "So at the moment, I'm learning about how to speak to [my] son in Samoan and how to ask him if he's hungry, or how to tell Gillies to walk the dogs. "One session a week on Friday, and then just daily prayers and stuff that I can learn each week." Kaka played netball and touch before getting into rugby in high school. "Honestly, I do not know anything about whole family loves league." She said she also has a desire of playing for Samoa one day. Photo: PHOTOSPORT "Obviously I love playing for New Zealand, but there's a sense of wanting to go and play for Samoa too. And there's people who have done it, like Niall Williams, she's played for New Zealand Rugby and then gone and played for Samoan League." She said she thanked her Samoan side for the grunt to be able to tackle and run over people. Her advice for others also on a language journey is that consistency is the key. "I've just fully embraced that I'm Samoan, and I will rep it. And if anyone asked me, I tell them 100% I'm Samoan. "If they call me plastic or anything like that, I will fight back at them, and they know it's 100% who I am. "Because if I ever doubt myself of not being Samoan enough, and keep diving into that and keep feeling it, then, everyone else has won, and my people and I are at a loss."
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Teen Dies After Controversial Tackle Game
Press Release – Science Media Centre A teenager has died after suffering a head injury while playing a private 'run it straight-style' tackle game in Palmerston North. It follows on from official RUNIT events taking place in Auckland last week, with a quarter of participants in one event reportedly suffering concussions. The Science Media Centre asked experts to comment. Professor Louise Parr-Brownlie (Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Arawa), Neuroscientist in the Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, comments: 'All unnecessary deaths are tragic, and leave a trail of destruction for whānau and friends. Ngā mihi ki te whānau me ngā hoa o Ryan Satterthwaite. 'Tackle game appears to be the latest version of a gladiator sport – adrenaline-driven risk taking by the gladiators that provides entertainment for those watching. Consequently, there are significant prizes up for grabs for competitors in organised competitions. 'Be cautious! Injury occurs when two people collide running at significant speed. Impact forces damage body tissues. 'Head injuries will occur from direct impact when one person's head collides the other person's head, part of their body or the ground. However, injury will also occur when there is no external impact – through whiplash. Here, when the body stops suddenly, but the head and brain snaps forwards or backwards, the cerebrospinal fluid that normally suspends and cushions the brain cannot prevent it from hitting the skull. This impact within the head tears brain and supporting connective tissues. 'As a consequence, brain function will be altered due to swelling or damage. The brain is bruised and the person is concussed. If the damage or swelling is severe, the person may die unless there is an emergency medical intervention. 'Fans of tackle game competitions enjoy the strengthened sense of community at these events. Connecting, the sense of belonging and forming deep relationships are good for mental health. But there are many other ways to connect and improve mental health without increasing the risk of a brain injury or death for a friend or competitor.' No conflicts of interest. Dr Josh McGeown, Senior Research Fellow – Mātai Medical Research Institute, comments: 'This is an incredibly sad – but unfortunately foreseeable – loss of life. 'While 'Run it Straight' events may superficially appear to resemble rugby or league, they are fundamentally different. In rugby codes, a primary concern is the risk of concussion. Decades of research have focused on understanding the biomechanics, assessment, prevention and rehabilitation of these injuries to reduce the risks. Safeguards like modified rules, medical oversight, proper training, and safe technique are integral to making sport safer. 'The format of 'Run it Straight' disregards these advances in sports medicine by deliberately creating 'battlefield' conditions that maximise the intensity of each collision. From a brain injury perspective, this shifts concerns from risk of concussion – serious in itself – to high risk of catastrophic and immediately life-threatening brain trauma due to skull fractures or brain bleeds. These severe forms of injury are more commonly seen in high-speed crashes than in organised sport. 'The RUNIT League promotes itself as the 'world's fiercest collision sport… built to break limits.' They say it was 'born to go viral.' That's exactly the problem and reflects a broader issue: the role of media in amplifying high-risk behaviour. When these stunts trend online or feature in mainstream reporting, they become socially endorsed. Glorifying violent collisions as entertainment and rewarding domination creates a culture of imitation – especially among young men – with dire consequences. 'This is where the distinction between RUNIT and sports like rugby matters most. In sport, injury is a risk. In RUNIT, injury is the objective. These events are not a test of toughness or resilience. They are deliberately engineered to cause harm for the sake of views and virality.' Conflict of interest statement: 'I have received funding from the New Zealand Rugby Foundation.' Professor Patria Hume, Professor Human Performance, AUT, comments: 'Last week in media interviews I stated that 'It is very clear from the number of concussions from the small number of 'running at each other events' that have occurred, that this is going to result in death'. I also said it unfortunately takes a death to make people take notice and to stop these high injury risk activities. 'This was a back yard copycat of the RunIt events. Ryan's death was preventable. 'The 'King of the Streets' 'event' based on UFC is also a high-risk event. 'We need people to stop participating in activities where the intention is to hurt someone. 'Why is this not considered assault? 'When two 150 kg rugby players collide at full sprint, the impact force can exceed 24,000 Newtons—far greater than a car crash at 30 km/h. These are not just games; they are high-speed collisions with the potential to cause life-altering brain injuries and death. Our biomechanics calculations show that the human body is not built to absorb this level of force repeatedly without consequence. 'The force of an intentional collision between two sprinting players is nearly five times that of a professional boxer's punch and more than twice the force of falling from two meters. These numbers are not just statistics—they represent a serious risk of concussion, fractures, with the potential to cause life-altering brain injuries and death. We must treat these impacts with the same seriousness as we do car crashes.' No conflicts of interest. Professor Melanie Bussey, School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, comments: 'The 'Run it Straight' event involves players tackling one another head-on at full run-up speed, a format that raises serious safety concerns. Current research is in agreement that front-on, upright tackles carry a significantly higher risk of concussions and neck injury. Moreover, our recent instrumented mouthguard research confirms that these tackles result in significantly higher head acceleration outcomes, which increases the likelihood of serious brain trauma. Objectively, this style of contact is among the highest-risk in sport when it comes to head and neck injury. 'At a time when player associations and governing bodies, across various sporting codes, are working hard to improve player welfare and reduce preventable injuries, the introduction of such a high-risk event seems not only counterproductive but deeply concerning.' Conflict of interest statement: 'My research has been funded by World Rugby as well as the NZ rugby foundation, I have working relationships with Prevent Biometrics and New Zealand Rugby both through my own research work and the work of my students.'
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Teen Dies After Controversial Tackle Game
A teenager has died after suffering a head injury while playing a private 'run it straight-style' tackle game in Palmerston North. It follows on from official RUNIT events taking place in Auckland last week, with a quarter of participants in one event reportedly suffering concussions. The Science Media Centre asked experts to comment. Professor Louise Parr-Brownlie (Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Arawa), Neuroscientist in the Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, comments: 'All unnecessary deaths are tragic, and leave a trail of destruction for whānau and friends. Ngā mihi ki te whānau me ngā hoa o Ryan Satterthwaite. 'Tackle game appears to be the latest version of a gladiator sport – adrenaline-driven risk taking by the gladiators that provides entertainment for those watching. Consequently, there are significant prizes up for grabs for competitors in organised competitions. 'Be cautious! Injury occurs when two people collide running at significant speed. Impact forces damage body tissues. 'Head injuries will occur from direct impact when one person's head collides the other person's head, part of their body or the ground. However, injury will also occur when there is no external impact – through whiplash. Here, when the body stops suddenly, but the head and brain snaps forwards or backwards, the cerebrospinal fluid that normally suspends and cushions the brain cannot prevent it from hitting the skull. This impact within the head tears brain and supporting connective tissues. 'As a consequence, brain function will be altered due to swelling or damage. The brain is bruised and the person is concussed. If the damage or swelling is severe, the person may die unless there is an emergency medical intervention. 'Fans of tackle game competitions enjoy the strengthened sense of community at these events. Connecting, the sense of belonging and forming deep relationships are good for mental health. But there are many other ways to connect and improve mental health without increasing the risk of a brain injury or death for a friend or competitor.' No conflicts of interest. Dr Josh McGeown, Senior Research Fellow – Mātai Medical Research Institute, comments: 'This is an incredibly sad – but unfortunately foreseeable – loss of life. 'While 'Run it Straight' events may superficially appear to resemble rugby or league, they are fundamentally different. In rugby codes, a primary concern is the risk of concussion. Decades of research have focused on understanding the biomechanics, assessment, prevention and rehabilitation of these injuries to reduce the risks. Safeguards like modified rules, medical oversight, proper training, and safe technique are integral to making sport safer. 'The format of 'Run it Straight' disregards these advances in sports medicine by deliberately creating 'battlefield' conditions that maximise the intensity of each collision. From a brain injury perspective, this shifts concerns from risk of concussion – serious in itself – to high risk of catastrophic and immediately life-threatening brain trauma due to skull fractures or brain bleeds. These severe forms of injury are more commonly seen in high-speed crashes than in organised sport. 'The RUNIT League promotes itself as the 'world's fiercest collision sport… built to break limits.' They say it was 'born to go viral.' That's exactly the problem and reflects a broader issue: the role of media in amplifying high-risk behaviour. When these stunts trend online or feature in mainstream reporting, they become socially endorsed. Glorifying violent collisions as entertainment and rewarding domination creates a culture of imitation – especially among young men – with dire consequences. 'This is where the distinction between RUNIT and sports like rugby matters most. In sport, injury is a risk. In RUNIT, injury is the objective. These events are not a test of toughness or resilience. They are deliberately engineered to cause harm for the sake of views and virality.' Conflict of interest statement: 'I have received funding from the New Zealand Rugby Foundation.' Professor Patria Hume, Professor Human Performance, AUT, comments: 'Last week in media interviews I stated that 'It is very clear from the number of concussions from the small number of 'running at each other events' that have occurred, that this is going to result in death'. I also said it unfortunately takes a death to make people take notice and to stop these high injury risk activities. 'This was a back yard copycat of the RunIt events. Ryan's death was preventable. 'The 'King of the Streets' 'event' based on UFC is also a high-risk event. 'We need people to stop participating in activities where the intention is to hurt someone. 'Why is this not considered assault? 'When two 150 kg rugby players collide at full sprint, the impact force can exceed 24,000 Newtons—far greater than a car crash at 30 km/h. These are not just games; they are high-speed collisions with the potential to cause life-altering brain injuries and death. Our biomechanics calculations show that the human body is not built to absorb this level of force repeatedly without consequence. 'The force of an intentional collision between two sprinting players is nearly five times that of a professional boxer's punch and more than twice the force of falling from two meters. These numbers are not just statistics—they represent a serious risk of concussion, fractures, with the potential to cause life-altering brain injuries and death. We must treat these impacts with the same seriousness as we do car crashes.' No conflicts of interest. Professor Melanie Bussey, School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, comments: 'The 'Run it Straight' event involves players tackling one another head-on at full run-up speed, a format that raises serious safety concerns. Current research is in agreement that front-on, upright tackles carry a significantly higher risk of concussions and neck injury. Moreover, our recent instrumented mouthguard research confirms that these tackles result in significantly higher head acceleration outcomes, which increases the likelihood of serious brain trauma. Objectively, this style of contact is among the highest-risk in sport when it comes to head and neck injury. 'At a time when player associations and governing bodies, across various sporting codes, are working hard to improve player welfare and reduce preventable injuries, the introduction of such a high-risk event seems not only counterproductive but deeply concerning.' Conflict of interest statement: 'My research has been funded by World Rugby as well as the NZ rugby foundation, I have working relationships with Prevent Biometrics and New Zealand Rugby both through my own research work and the work of my students.'
