News & Insights
Reciprocity, Rugby, and Relationships
Author
Date
- 2025 August
In the world of cultural engagement, reciprocity isn’t just a value; it’s a way of showing up. When we visited Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops earlier this year, it was to stand behind one of our own. Now, as Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei welcomed First Nations teams from Canada to Aotearoa, we were there again; because when they’re here, we are too.
Last week’s rugby match at Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei wasn’t just about the game. It was about the chants that echoed across the field, the laughter of tamariki, and the quiet moments where friendships were deepened over shared kai. It was also about ensuring that the spirit of manaakitanga; so central to our work at RCP; was lived and felt.
For our Assistant Project Managers: Josh Kirwan, Rosie Argyle-Wright, and Bella Curtis; it was a chance to see first-hand the depth of relationship-building that underpins much of what we do. These behind-the-scenes moments matter. They are where trust is built, where young leaders learn that cultural engagement is as much about showing up on a cold winter’s night as it is about sitting at a boardroom table.
Special thanks to Dean Turner, who was there connecting with people and sharing laughs; just weeks out from moving his whānau to Vancouver to help grow RCP’s presence in Canada. Dean’s own words captured the essence of the evening: the joy of seeing the smiles on the faces of First Nations kids, and the anticipation of continuing this work across the Pacific.
Whether in Tāmaki Makaurau or British Columbia, these moments stitch together a trans-Pacific tapestry of relationships; threads that began more than three decades ago and continue to strengthen today.
This is the work that lasts. It’s not just rugby, and it’s not just business. It’s about connection, respect, and the quiet power of turning up for each other; every time.
