Games & Activities Poi Toa
Poi toa - traditional Maori game
POITOA were used by men to develop the skills and strength needed for weapons such as taiaha and patu.
Typically they were made from harakeke (flax) and raupo (bullrush) and sometimes they were filled with rocks also used to practice evading.
There is a different tikanga (protocol) around the use of poitoa, it is designed to throw around, hit the ground and it's ok to hit people with it, but remember they may have a poi too and it may be filled with rocks!
We suggest a little less extreme poi and use paper or rags stuffed into plastic bags, cheap rope tied to bag, wrapped in tarp and taped tight, check out our FACEBOOK PAGE for pics
The head of the poi is called the KI and the tail TE AHO, the bit where the Ki is tied to TE AHO is known as and AWE
WARM UP ACTIVITIES
We have found that by developing the skills needed to play the games players tended to learn faster and enjoyed it more
swing the poi front to back then back to front, switch from right and left hands
spin the poi in a figure 8 pattern in front of you, using left and right and try using both hands at the same time
helicopter or spinning the poi above the head both hands again
Throw and catch, start with small underhand throws then try higher ones and different ways of getting it to fly, you have to catch it by the te aho!!!
Practice individually or in pairs until everyone is confident and competent.
This can also be used as a whanagatanga activity, great icebreaker and also can be a name game.
NAME OF GAME
Poi toa dodge (karo) (papare/tia)
DESCRIPTION
Throwing poi trying to hit evading playing
3+ players
OBJECTIVE OF THE GAME
Kioma evade poi
Taniwha hit kioma players with poi
FIELD LAYOUT
Small area, bigger as taniwha get better at aiming and the harder they throw
RESOURCES NEEDED
Poi
Players ID
RULES
each team counts the hits or misses
each player gets 1-2 minutes as kioma
VARIATIONS
3 players, 1 in the middle, level 1 kioma avoids poi, level 2 block poi by the Ki / head of poi, level 3 catch poi aho / tail
5 players 1 in the middle, taniwha front, back and sides, 2 poi as above, can add 4 poi as skill levels develop
dodge poi, 6 or more players; similar to dodge ball but with a poi; small field or court, players start at opposite ends.
Poi’s can be placed in on the middle line and retrieved by the teams or each team is given a set amount of poi’s.
Eliminate the opposition by hitting them with the poi. No head shots!
Players may re enter play if one of their team catches the poi, by the aho on the full.
1st team to eliminate the other team (or most players left after set time) is the winner