Māori Touch New Zealand is proud to announce an international tour to the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia in June 2026.

The tour, presented in partnership withthe Gold Coast Touch Association, will feature Māori Touch NZ Men’s, Women’s,and Mixed teams. This announcement follows the resounding success of the 2025 New South Wales tour and continues the organisation’s commitment to growing international opportunities for Māori touch players.

The 2026 Gold Coast tour will play a key role in Māori Touch NZ’s wider campaign and season preparations for the highly anticipated World Indigenous Touch World Cup in 2027. The tour will champion tikanga Māori and serve as a platform for cultural connection, athletic excellence, and international exchange.

The selected teams will be made up of players from across Aotearoa, with a strong emphasis on developing emerging Māori talent and providing opportunities for young athletes to experience the international stage.

“This is more than just a sporting tour — it’s a celebration of identity, whakapapa,and whanaungatanga. We’re proud to be creating opportunities for our people to not only compete on the international stage, but to share our unique culture through the sport of touch” – Pat Spellman, Director, Māori Touch NZ

Gold Coast Touch Association is equally enthusiastic about the partnership and the opportunity to host Māori teams.

“We are honoured to host Māori Touch NZ here on the Gold Coast. This partnershipis about more than competition — it’s about bringing people together through culture and sport. We look forward to welcoming our Māori whānau and delivering an unforgettable experience for all involved,” – Khan Robust, President, Gold CoastTouch Association

Further details, including player selection, match schedule, and cultural engagements will be announced in the coming months.

Article added: Sunday 10 August 2025