48 Māori rangatahi (youth) aged 11-18 and 9 chaperones from - Rangiora, Alexandra, Christchurch, Levin, Rotorua, Tauranga, Gisborne, Paihia, Kaikohe and KeriKeri - were guests of FIFA last night at the quarter-final match between Japan and Sweden at Eden Park. Led by Jennifer Pickering who is a member of the FIFA Cultural Advisory Panel, for some of the children - the majority of whom represent Māori Football Aotearoa regional teams, or local club and school teams - it was the first time they had been on an aeroplane, let alone attended an international football match.

After a day of fun activities - today they were going to also visit the FIFA Fan Festival and iconic lnadmark, the Sky Tower - the experience became even more special once they arrived at the stadium, with an introduction to Football Ferns Head Coach Jitka Klimková - who led her team to a historic first FIFA Women's World Cup victory at this tournament - as well as FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura and New Zealand Football President Johanna Wood. Also attending the match was Governor-General of New Zealand, Dame Cindy Kiro. Dame Kiro is the first Māori woman – she is of Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahu and British descent – to be appointed as Governor-General and is a champion for social justice, equity and public health.

The invitation to the children follows on from a similar opportunity for 50 First Nations girls aged 11-15 from Western Australia, Northern Territory and Central/Far North Queensland, who were treated to a trip of a lifetime when they visited Brisbane/Meaanjin for the match between England v Nigeria. The girls and their ten female chaperones – including mothers, aunties, grandmothers, sisters and teachers – were treated to a trip full of football, memories and messages of empowerment. Speaking after that match, the FIFA Secretary General said: “This trip will give them memories for a lifetime. We want to empower young girls from remote communities so they can find their voice and own their spaces.”