For many, it was their first time leaving home, made possible by months of fundraising through sausage sizzles, wood chopping and car washes. <\/p>\n
Each team was paired with a \u201cbuddy club\u201d from another region or country, encouraged to support one another, share kai and exchange gifts. Campbell said the system and the overall tournament brought families together \u201cin a world where so much pulls us apart\u201d. <\/p>\n
Rotorua\u2019s Marist St Michaels are returning, as they have every year since the festival began, sending four teams across the under-10 to under-13 grades.<\/p>\n
Club coach and junior board secretary Jill Dinniss said that each year \u201cthe vibe was incredible\u201d and the kids were left feeling \u201cempowered\u201d. <\/p>\n
Dinniss said players were always pooled with teams of similar ability, so even after a tough season, they arrived to play competitive games. With weight-restricted and open grades, no player was turned away. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think a single person has ever said it wasn\u2019t worth the effort or the cost,\u201d Dinniss said.<\/p>\n
Rotorua\u2019s Marist St Michael\u2019s club has been part of the festival every year since it began, this year sending four teams across the under-10 to under-13 grades. Pictured is the under-13 team. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Sustainability was also at the core of the event. After 2019, when skip bins overflowed with rubbish, Campbell said he had felt \u201cembarrassed\u201d. <\/p>\n
Organisers partnered with Queenstown-based group Without Waste to make this year\u2019s festival zero-waste, diverting more than 90% of waste from landfill. Teams sorted their waste, vendors used compostable packaging, and single-use cups were banned.<\/p>\n
Taup\u014d Mayor David Trewavas said the festival was one of the district\u2019s biggest events, delivering a major economic boost. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe love the excitement and vibrancy it brings to our district,\u201d Trewavas said. Local supermarkets, motels, campgrounds and hostels were among the main beneficiaries.<\/p>\n
Trewavas praised organisers for their waste-free commitment, supporting the council\u2019s push to reduce landfill and eliminate single-use items. <\/p>\n
Sport had an \u201camazing ability\u201d to bring people together, Trewavas said, and this festival was a \u201cwonderful example of that connection in practice\u201d.<\/p>\n
The four-day festival opens with a ceremony at Owen Delany Park tomorrow before games begin on Friday. Matches, buddy team activities and community events run through the weekend, closing with a prizegiving on Sunday.<\/p>\n