Football, culture and community came together at Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Middle School as students embraced a day of traditional sports ‘Takalo he maaga’, an initiative led by Healthy Active Learning Advisor Florence Rodwell.
Rodwell, who is the mother of Niue’s first-ever professional football player Jaylen Rodwell, delivered the activation drawing on the knowledge and ideas gained through New Zealand Football’s Pasifika Community Coach Developer Programme.
The programme brings together Pasifika coaches from across Aotearoa to share ideas on using football as a vehicle to strengthen communities and create opportunities at every level.
“We came together and exchanged ideas around how we can take football and the love of football and bring it to our communities,” Rodwell said. She said one of the programme’s biggest takeaways was empowering young people to lead.
“One of the most important things I took from the workshop was working with student leaders. It’s about coaches passing on their knowledge and skills. It’s the tuakana-teina model.”
Those learnings came to life throughout the day, with students rotating through activities that included traditional Niuean games such as ‘ta vao’ and ‘liti uho’ alongside football and touch rugby activities.
“It allows them to see school as a space where they can engage in their cultural identities,” Rodwell said. “The engagement is really good because it talks about teamwork, competition and a sense of identity and belonging.”
Adding to the occasion was Rodwell’s son, Jaylen, who recently became the first Niuean professional footballer after signing with South Island United in the inaugural OFC Professional League. He spent time with students, sharing his journey and encouraging them to dream big.
“I introduced myself and said that I’m half Niuean, and they were going pretty crazy. That was a cool moment,” Jaylen shared. “It’s awesome to see all these young kids inspired to play sport. We’d love to see more kids playing football.”
He said the current FIFA World Cup had also captured the students’ imagination.
“There were kids asking me to do tricks and talking about the World Cup. It’s cool to see them inspired not just by local football, but by the World Cup.”
For Jaylen, supporting the event alongside his family made the day even more special. “Since my mum is running it, I wanted to come and support her. She’s been working hard to organise this event. To be here with my brother and my mum, giving back to the community, I’m super grateful.”
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Middle School Deputy Principal Maxine Inu said the initiative had a lasting impact on both students and staff. “It’s really great to have our students out here, engaged in different sports and different cultures,” Inu said.
She said the inclusive nature of the activities ensured every child could participate. “These games are for everyone. There is no elimination. No one is told, ‘You’re out of this game.'”
Inu also hopes students leave with more than just memories of a fun day. “Being active, being outside, being together and celebrating culture. That’s what today was all about.”