On Saturday 6 July, Rolleston College head student Ashley McLean and the U20 Māori football squad travelled to Hilo, Hawai'i, where they took part in the King's Hawaiian Football Festival.

"During the festival we played the Hawai'i team twice in test matches," says Ashley.

"Unfortunately, we didn't get the results we wanted, but it was so amazing being able to play on our whānau across the oceans' whenua."

"This is my third time being privileged enough to represent my whakapapa and my iwi of Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Maniapoto," she says.

"I have also played against the Cook Islands national team in 2022, and then last year in Auckland we played the Hawai'ian Kanaka Powawae."

"It is always an honour being able to play a sport I enjoy, while being able to explore a culture that I was not necessarily immersed in during my upbringing."

"In my time at Māori Football I have grown my understanding of my Māori heritage and where I come from, along with the importance that our cultures hold in Aotearoa New Zealand."

Congratulations Ashley!