The Bunnings Pacific Cup’s Impact on Pacific and Māori Youth
The Bunnings Pacific Cup Touch Tournament is more than just a competition—it’s a celebration of culture, community, and connection for our Pacific and Māori youth. Held annually in South Auckland, this event has become the largest Pacific-led touch tournament in the world, and it continues to grow in size and impact.
Founded in 2019 by Patariki Spellman (known as Pat), alongside his good friends Ngariki Enosa and Harley Wall, the Pacific Cup was established to create a representative platform for indigenous people to call their own.
“Māori and Pacific people make up huge numbers in our sport at a community level—it made sense for tangata moana to have a representative platform in the same way Māori have. We wanted to come together, celebrate what it means to be us—and play some touch,”
The concept was to acknowledge, share, and celebrate everything that makes Pacific communities unique.
From the beginning, the event embraced the elements that reflect the Māori and Pasifika spirit.
“Everything that makes us unique as Māori and Pasifika peoples is infused into the two-day tournament held in South Auckland—our music, kai, community, and the way we play touch,”
Patariki explains. What sets this event apart is its inclusive nature, allowing for generational participation. “You can have tamariki mokopuna playing on Saturday morning, then by Sunday afternoon those same kids can be watching their parents and grandparents play. Same tournament, same weekend—same kaupapa.”
The tournament, held at Bruce Pulman Park in Takanini, attracts over 1,500 participants across 15 grades representing Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, Tonga, Fiji, and Iwi Māori from throughout Aotearoa. Players, coaches, and referees come from across New Zealand as well as internationally, including Australia, Fiji, Niue, and the Cook Islands. An estimated 5,000 people are expected to attend and enjoy the Pacific Cup this weekend.
Pat believes that tournaments like these are crucial for indigenous youth and their sense of pride.
“So long as inequities continue to plague our sport—and respectfully, they do—we need to ensure platforms exist to allow for expressions of cultural pride. Put simply, representative touch is expensive.”
“For the longest time, it has been those that can afford it, that play. Those that can’t, don’t. As a result, so many indigenous people miss out.”
The Pacific Cup is designed to be accessible, affordable, and enjoyable. “Our tournament is designed to indulge in culture before competition. Mainstream events don’t do that. That’s not necessarily wrong—it’s just not us. The Pacific Cup is important, because we are important.”
For Pat and his team, the goal isn’t just about playing the sport—it’s about promoting movement, health, and fun in a culturally supportive environment.
“I think movement in general is important for our youth, and our people full stop. The cool thing about kaupapa like Pacific Cup is that there is more than just the touch on the field to initiate movement. There’s plenty of inclusive, fun ways to move. Not everyone is an athlete—I know that better than anyone, but in the lead-up, during, and post-event, we provide opportunities for everyone to move, laugh, and lead a healthier life.”
The inspiration behind this tournament is reinforcing a sense of belonging and worth within the community.
“Reinforcing that we, as people—are enough. We are more than enough—we are everything. I’m over our culture being weaponised, monetised, and marginalised in a mainstream context,” Pat says. He’s motivated by what’s possible through this movement and encouraged by the community's response.
“We have massive numbers, huge growth, and the future looks as bright as the stars we used to navigate our way here!”
Pat hopes that players walk away with more than just a trophy. “Cultural pride. I hope and pray our people walk away feeling proud to be us.”
The Bunnings Pacific Cup Touch Tournament takes place on Saturday, November 2nd, and Sunday, November 3rd, at Bruce Pulman Park in Takanini. For more information on the event, follow @pacificcuptouch on social media or visit www.pacificcuptouch.com.
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By Tikilounge Productions & Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa
Arts & Culture Journalist Destiny Momoiseā