With a role that was organic and evolutionary, PNZ Head of Games and Sport Delivery, Lynette Grace , says Kelly’s contribution was an outstanding success and widely embraced by Paralympians and the Team Support Staff alike.
“Paralympics New Zealand is at the early stages of a bicultural journey and I was approached to see what we, Sport NZ and HPSNZ’s Kāhui Rautaki Māori could do in Paris,” says Kelly.
With a relatively new CEO at PNZ, there was a desire to see what the whakatau would look like and what cultural capabilities could be delivered on the ground.
The role of Pou Tuarā literally translates to ‘your back’ (Tuarā) and ‘pillar’ (Pou) which Kelly and his Kāhui Rautaki Māori colleagues describe as being a backbone supporting and advisory role across the Sport NZ Group.
Kelly says there was no formal structure to the role but rather, for this first undertaking, it was more about observing and organically evolving a culture framework for the New Zealand Paralympic Team.
“One of the key initiatives was taking some Mauri stones (touch stones) that created an environment that connected our people and helped them understand what makes us different to everyone else,” says Kelly.
There was a number of practical yet important roles Kelly undertook for the Team.
“Chef de Mission Raylene Bates had gifted pounamu pendants to Paralympians and Team Support staff and we put the pendants around the Mauri stones when they were presented to Paralympians so they could see and touch them.
“As Paralympians came into the Village, they were greeted with a Whakatau (welcome) and we also initiated an open invitation morning waiata and karakia for Team members who wanted to join us.”
Kelly says one of his personal highlights was sitting and talking with Paralympians away from sport.
“It was a real privilege to have them open up about their abilities, their disabilities, their whānau and friends. I think we provided a safe environment where they could share their personal journey, whether they were born with a disability or acquired their disability as a result of an accident or illness.
“Quite a few Paralympians asked for help to prepare their pepeha and advice on pronunciation. It was evident these seemingly small things were really important for their confidence in singing or talking in te reo.”
New Zealand Paralympic Team Chef de Mission Raylene Bates says having Kelly as part of the Team was fantastic. “His role was somewhat organic especially as this is a new learning pathway for the Team in a Paralympic Games environment.
“Kelly was amazing and he really let people lean on him and learn from him with absolutely no expectations.
Lynette adds, “What I saw was how strongly and fully everyone embraced the cultural connections. Some of our most seasoned Paralympians said how much they enjoyed the cultural elements created in the Team room and as part of the Team culture. Kelly’s introduction of the Mauri stones was a first and the overall cultural aspects laid a great foundation for the New Zealand Paralympic Team going forward.”
Kelly sums up by saying he hopes the little things he was able to help with contributed to some huge outcomes.
Kelly James
