Team Aotearoa To Change Back to Team New Zealand
Change to Make Space for New Mana Tangata o Aotearoa Roller Derby
In a joint release this week Team Aotearoa and Mana Tangata o Aotearoa announced that Team Aotearoa while be changing back to Team New Zealand Roller Derby, the team name they held prior to the 2018 World Cup.
The release on Facebook, in English and Māori, details the decision behind both changes. This latest change comes to honour a request made by the Mana Tangata o Aotearoa Roller Derby, established in 2019, “Mana Tangata o Aotearoa requested for the established ‘“Team Aotearoa” to repatriate the name “Aotearoa” to the people of the land, the indigenous players and representatives. Team Aotearoa supported the request and became Team New Zealand. We have both made assurances to work alongside each other in support of all players of New Zealand/Aotearoa.”
Mana Tangata o Aotearoa Roller Derby’s mission is to, “unite the Indigenous Roller Derby Community in Aotearoa. We are here to shine a spotlight on decolonisation and simultaneously encourage Pacific Nations and other Indigenous communities to celebrate their cultural identity.”
The release was celebrated by fans of both teams.
Mana Tangata o Aotearoa Roller Derby is currently fundraising for skaters who are travelling to “Regional Rumble” to compete. Their roster is below.
Māori Vixen #28, Ngā Ruahinerangi; Te Ātiawa
PARORE #666 , Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi & Ngāti Kahu
O’Carroll #17
Diamond #229
Lanes #1234
Whakintawh@ #40+
La Bomba #24
Witoko #13
Venus Thightrap #14
haRURU #97, Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri (Chatham Islands)
ma-fi-a-boss #101, Nga Rauru / Ngati Maniapoto
Tantrum #114
Woodford #5012, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungungu
Flirty Harry #94, Ngāti Raukawa (waikato region)
Pare Rocker #121
Wonder Wahine #420, Kai Tahu, Kati Mamoe, Waitaha, Rabuvai, Moriori
PARORE #64, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi & Ngāti Kahu
X-Ray -Bench
maDD Honour -Bench
Tino -Bench
Regional Rumble, October 24–25th, will be live streamed by twitch.tv/rollerderbystreamingnz.
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