New Zealand Football

The beautiful game is the perfect vehicle to unite people from different cultures from all around the world.

Football and futsal teams, like the classroom, are made up of people from different cultures, backgrounds and experiences. In order to live in a harmonious Aotearoa New Zealand, it is important that we learn about how we connect to Tangata Whenua and people from abroad.

Through partnership New Zealand Football, Māori Football Aotearoa and Sport New Zealand have developed Kōtuitui – a school programme for primary and intermediate-aged children.

Kōtuitui helps children develop their cultural intelligence skills and enable them to better connect with people to celebrate Aotearoa New Zealand’s bicultural roots and our ever-growing multicultural landscape. The in-classroom learning delivered by teachers is supported by specially designed fun bicultural and multicultural football and futsal games by Māori Football Aotearoa and New Zealand Football.

Kōtuitui is an outcome of Aotearoa United: Legacy Starts Now, New Zealand Football’s FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ leverage and legacy plan. Kōtuitui was developed under the plan’s Tiaki | People and Places pou | pillar.

Click on the profile images below to learn more about the player.