Rangiata Sky and Whakaata Māori partner to simulcast Māori All Blacks matches this Matariki - Sky

Mānawa maiea te putanga o Matariki
To honour or celebrate Matariki when it rises in the sky

This Matariki, Rangiata Sky and Whakaata Māori are partnering to broadcast the two upcoming Māori All Blacks v Japan XV rugby matches, which are set to take place at Tokyo’s Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium on June 29 at 10pm NZST and Toyota Stadium on July 6 at 9pm NZST.

Both matches will be simulcast across Sky and Whakaata Māori.

The June 29 fixture will be presented with English match commentary live on Sky Sport 1 and te reo Māori match commentary live on Sky Sport 2 and also live on Whakaata Māori.

The following match on July 6 will have English commentary on Sky Sport 2, and te reo Māori commentary on Sky Sport 3 and Whakaata Māori.

Sky Open will have free-to-air delayed coverage of both matches.

Julian Wilcox (Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa) will host pre-match, half-time, and post-match analysis alongside former Māori All Blacks halfback Bryn Hall (Ngāti Ranginui) and Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Awa) across Sky and Whakaata Māori.

Tony Johnson and Bryn Hall will call the matches in English, while Tūmamao Harawira (Ngāpuhi) and Te Aorere Pēwhairangi (Ngāti Porou) will provide te reo Māori commentary.

Whakaata Māori Kaihautū Shane Taurima (Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Kahungunu) says the Māori All Blacks are a source of pride for Aotearoa New Zealand.

“The Māori All Blacks and earlier Māori national rugby teams have been taking our culture, our reo and a unique style of rugby around the world since their inception.”

“From the amazing George Nepia, known for his kicking and tackling in the 1930’s to the prowess of one of Aotearoa’s best half backs, the late Sid Going in the 1960’s and 1970’s - the Māori All Blacks continue to inspire future generations of rugby players. We are very proud to be able to co-broadcast the Māori All Blacks Vs Japan on our Whakaata Māori platforms,” he says.

Jonny Errington, Chief Content and Commercial Officer for Sky, says the team are delighted to be partnering to extend the reach of these test matches.

“We’re really pleased to be partnering with Whakaata Māori to bring te reo Māori to audiences right across Aotearoa for these two matches.

“Building on the success of our te reo Māori commentary during the Rugby World Cup in 2023 where over 71,000 New Zealanders tuned into our te reo broadcast, our hope and ambition is to welcome new audiences to these Māori All Blacks matches by sharing them on Whakaata Māori.

“I can’t think of a better time than Matariki to be acknowledging the history of both organisations. We look forward to finding more ways to collaborate in future to normalise te reo, tikanga and Māori leadership on air.”

Māori All Blacks head coach Ross Filipo (Muaūpoko) says, they are deeply grateful for this partnership between Sky and Whakaata Māori.

“Extra coverage that includes free-to-air gives all fans and whānau the chance to support us while we’re away from home. We’re incredibly proud to represent our culture. This partnership will increase the visibility of Māori and rugby, inspiring generations to come.”

Ahead of the opening match between the Māori All Blacks and Japan XV on June 29, Sky and Whakaata Māori will also simulcast the NRL match between the Warriors and Broncos from 5pm. 
The match will be available to watch with English match commentary available live on Sky Sport 4. Te reo Māori commentary, to be led by Tūmamao Harawira and Te Aorere Pēwhairangi, will be live on Sky Sport 2 and Whakaata Māori.

This Matariki, Rangiata Sky will also join Whakaata Māori and other New Zealand broadcasters in simulcasting the national Matariki celebrations free to air on Sky Open from 6.00am on Friday 28 June. Mānawatia a Matariki will be presented by hosts Stacey Morrison (Te Arawa, Ngāi Tahu) and Mātai Smith (Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri), live from Kā Papa Toitoi, Treble Cone, Wānaka.

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