Wiri Licensing Trust is committed to ensuring our region is recognised as a place where great events happen and where our people shine.
That’s why we are thrilled to be the Principal Community Partner, alongside Trillian Trust, of the 2025 and 2026 Pacific Cup Tournaments, delivering enjoyable, culturally centred and accessible touch experiences for all Māori and Pasifika peoples.
The two-day 2025 Wiri Licensing Trust Pacific Cup Touch Tournament, taking place on the weekend of November 1 and 2 at Manurewa’s Mountfort Park, will feature teams representing the Cook Islands, Samoa, Niue, Fiji, Tonga and Aotearoa Māori, with some players travelling from overseas and the majority Auckland-based. The competition caters for all ages, from tamariki in the Under 10 to 14 grades right through to Open Men’s and Women’s teams.
Event co-founder Pat Spellman says the tournament will once again showcase the vibrancy of the Pacific, featuring not only world-class touch rugby but also a bustling marketplace filled with local businesses and food vendors.
“It gives everyone a true taste of home, whether that’s Tahiti or Tokoroa.”
Wiri Licensing Trust General Manager Kim Green says partnering with the Pacific Cup is an awesome opportunity to further invest in community initiatives that make an impact locally.
“We are incredibly proud of Pacific Cup and the mahi they do to engage tamariki and rangatahi through the sport of touch.
“It’s also fantastic to see large-scale events like this being hosted here in South Auckland, giving people the chance to experience firsthand the talent, passion and culture our community has to offer.”
One of the most exciting elements of the partnership will be the introduction of the Wiri Licensing Trust Junior Player of the Game certificates across every match in the Under-10, Under-12 and Under-14 grades. U10 and U12 players will receive a complimentary kids meal and U14 players will receive $15 towards any food items at Woodside Bar, Dining and Functions in Manukau – celebrating the next generation of tamariki and rangatahi athletes in a meaningful way.
The collaboration will also see positive community messages placed strategically throughout the park during the event weekend. These messages will reinforce the importance of showing awhi, kindness and support for one another – values that both Pacific Cup and the Trust are deeply committed to promoting.
Pat says the tournament relies on support from funders and sponsors.
“Put simply, we couldn’t run without it. In a community like
ours, where our primary goal is to ensure our event is accessible and
affordable, we have to find ways of offsetting costs without putting that back
onto the players and community.
“Our event is the most affordable of its kind in New
Zealand, probably the world. That is very hard to maintain – so when Wiri
Licensing Trust put up their hands to support us, it brought a few tears!
“Kim and her team have really gone above and beyond to ensure we are best positioned to make this a core childhood memory for tamariki and rangatahi throughout South Auckland. We are so grateful!”
The Pacific Cup Tournament was launched in 2019, with teams from Samoa, Niue, the Cook Islands and Pacific Māori taking the field. After two years of Covid cancellations, the tournament returned bigger and better in 2022, with the addition of teams from Tonga and a second day of matches. From there the momentum grew, with almost 100 teams at Mountfort Park in 2023, and a record-breaking 110 teams in 2024 when Fiji joined the tournament at Bruce Pulman Park.
Pat is delighted the event will return to Mountfort Park in 2025 for what promises to be the biggest celebration yet.
“It really does feel special to be coming home and providing this opportunity for the many who will come along and enjoy the weekend!
“Our kaupapa is wider than the game. We are committed to nurturing identity, celebrating our cultures, and strengthening the roots of our indigenous and Pacific languages. Every event is a platform for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau to see themselves represented with pride, on and off the field.”
Wiri Licensing Trust wants to connect with local community groups and organisations that are doing great work in our hood to understand how we can better support you – email us at info@wiritrust.org.nz.
