Tamariki Touch Classic Event - Cancelled

Kia ora koutou — Earlier this week our Tamariki Touch Classic committee met to discuss the 2022 event, scheduled for Auckland Anniversary weekend.

Following feedback from many of our participating provinces, and taking into consideration the Covid Protection Framework (Traffic Light system) - we’ve made the really difficult decision to cancel the 2022 Tamariki Touch Classic.

Naturally, there will be many questions and possibly even alternative options suggested in an effort to show how TTC can run in January. We assure you we have explored all reasonable options.

This kaupapa was launched to bring whānau together - through touch. Taking the spirit of the much loved, now retired, IPS format - our goal is to provide a safe, fun environment for all in attendance.

In our hui, a committee member spoke of how TTC is one of those events where you can lose your kids, and know they will show up hours later having been fed, and looked after by our extended touch community.

We’re not confident the above can be achieved with the uncertainty, restrictions and requirements in place to run an event of our size. The hesitation of travelling into Auckland from outside the City has been communicated to us as well - something we can appreciate and understand.

It’s also really important that we protect our most vulnerable, in particular our kaumatua & kuia.

As a small team of volunteers, we can appreciate, and acknowledge the amount of time and energy that goes into coordinating campaigns for events like ours.

We want to thank all provinces and their extended supporters for the effort to date in preparation for TTC 2022.

We’ll now plan toward 2023 - returning on Auckland Anniversary weekend.

We’re planning on presenting TTC 2023 from the beautiful Te Tai Tokerau! We’re looking forward to sharing more on that, in due course.

Thanks for your understanding, please take care and look after each other. — in Auckland, New Zealand.