“He uri ahau o Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāpuhi, Te Whānau a Āpanui me Tūwharetoa.”
Kimiora Insley is a prominent figure within Māori Football in Aotearoa, playing a key role in weaving together sport, culture, and community.
She brings her passion and leadership to multiple spaces—as a Healthy Active Learning Advisor for Sport Bay of Plenty, a board member of Māori Football Aotearoa, and a part of team management for Māori Football teams.
Most recently, she became a graduate of the Ford Women in Football Leadership Programme, further strengthening her capacity to lead and inspire.
A Journey Sparked by Whānau
Insley’s journey with Māori Football began in 2020, inspired by her son’s involvement with Māori Football Aotearoa. His positive experiences in a kaupapa Māori environment—both as a young Māori man and as a football player—ignited her desire to enter the world of football.
Insley’s son’s growth in the Māori Football space led her to join the board of Māori Football Aotearoa, driven by a commitment to support and expand the legacy of the organisation.
“I want to support them with growing their legacy,” she says.
Culture at Heart
For Insley, Māori Football Aotearoa is about much more than the game—it is a celebration of culture and identity.
“The environment that Māori Football provides in that cultural space, and creating a safe space for our players to be engaged in their culture is really important.”
She highlights how the kaupapa creates opportunities for Māori to reconnect with their whakapapa. It is Māori values and whanaungatanga that are the driving factor behind the organisation.
“It’s about relationships and connections—they have a sense of belonging.”
Leading with Purpose
As Kaiawhina Māori and a part of the team management during Māori Football Aotearoa’s campaign in Fiji, Insley’s focus was on more than just match results.
She played a crucial role in fostering a safe environment that helped players connect with their whakapapa and Māori values.
This included tikanga and whanaungatanga sessions, learning karakia, and learning the actions to Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi in the team bus—many of which were new experiences for the players.
“By the end— they were so proud of themselves—they just so embraced it.”
Whilst taking the win against Fiji was the ultimate goal of the campaign, the true victory lay in cultural growth and representation.
“We are going and representing Māori on the international stage, so ensuring that we are growing as Māori, and we are embracing our Māori culture was really important.”
A Confident Voice for Change
Insley has been a consistent leader throughout her journey with Māori Football Aotearoa. Graduating from the Ford Women in Football Leadership Programme has empowered Insley to bring even more confidence to her leadership roles.
‘“It’s given me confidence to speak up and have those difficult conversations and discuss things that are going to help us grow as a board and grow as Māori Football, and provide those opportunities for our players, managers and coaches coming through.”
Though she acknowledges the presence of imposter syndrome at times, Insley remains grounded in her purpose.
“We are all wāhine that are in roles where we can influence others and provide opportunities through the game of football.”
Ends
Photo Credit: New Zealand Football
