Games & Activities Tapu ae
Tapu ae - Traditional Māori Game
NAME OF GAME
Tapu ea / tapuwae / tapawai
DESCRIPTION
Large team game 10+ players 8+ years old
OBJECTIVE OF THE GAME
1st team to “hit all tupu” with the Ki wins
FIELD LAYOUT
It is often played on a netball court
4 main zones to the field, attack, middle, defense and pawero
Size can vary depending on numbers of players, level of fitness and skill
Tupu (targets) placed in the pawero, the attackers try to hit them with the KI
See picture attached
RESOURCES NEEDED
6-10 tupu (these can be cones with balls on top or old bottles filled with sand or water)
KI, can be a ball, ki or poi
Filed marking
Bibs to identify teams
RULES
Start the games by throwing the KI into te Ao (the middle zone) this is done after each tupu hit
If a team losses possession out of bounds over the sides, then they hand over the KI to the opposition
If it goes out over the back, the defensive teams kaitiaki gets the KI
The KI must be touched by your team in te Ao, before the attack can gain possession
If you are using a poi, attackers need to keep the poi swinging, if the defender is close enough to hit with the poi, then they are too close, if 2 people catch the poi at the same time then the closest to the ki (head) retains possession
VARIATIONS
STATIC Designed to encourage passing and team work, not so daunting for less active players
No running while in possession of the KI
Defenders stay 3 feet away, no contact
Dynamic You can run with the ki
Tackling, ripper tags or touch is allowed depending on the group