--› It is important to note that rules of play vary in other areas of New Zealand – the rules of the game are not standardised, hence the process of " Tatu" – whereby teams from different areas negotiate the rules of play for the day.

These are the rules for Ki-o-Rahi as played by the Ngati Mahana, a sub-tribe of Ngati Raukawa.

Two teams play against each other. These teams have names – "Kioma" and "Taniwha".

The Kioma team’s basic aim is to score "tries" (Māori term is "Tupu Manawa") while the Taniwha team opposing them attempts to score "‘hits" (Māori term "Tupu Wairua") on the large centre target (called a "Tupu"). The team which scores the most points wins the game, OR the team which scores ten times in a row.

At the start of play the Kioma team have their players positioned thus – three players in the "Pawero" zone, three players in the "Te Ao" zone and one player in the "Te Marama" circle.

The player positioned in "Te Marama" starts the game by throwing the ball to their team mates in the "Pawero" zone --› remember that "‘own hits" (striking the "Te Tupu") can be scored. Once the throw-in has been completed that player joins their team mates in the "Te Ao" zone.

The duty of the players placed in the "‘Pawero" zone is to pass the ball to their team mates in the outer "Te Ao" zone and to prevent their opponents from kicking the ball onto the "Te Tupu". "Pawero" players can handle the ball with any part of their body.

Once the Kioma players positioned in the "Te Ao" zone have received the ball they can inter pass it amongst each other. They then attempt to score a "try" – there are two parts in this process (A and B as below) :

   a) One player firstly, attempts to "touch" (Māori term "Wharongo") a boundary "pou" while they are holding the ball (all seven "‘pou" can be tagged in this manner). They cannot "touch" a pou more than once. While they are attempting the "touches" on the pou, the opposing team will be endeavouring to gain possession of the ball by tackling the ball carriers and grabbing the ball.

   b ) Secondly, once a "pou" has been touched the Kioma players in Te Ao continue to inter-pass the ball, attempting to "touch" more pou, until one player attempts to run, while holding the ball, through the "Te Roto" zone and into the "Pawero" zone, for a "try" (Tupu Manawa). The opposing team will attempt to tackle this runner (Māori term "Teitei") to prevent a "try" from being scored.

The points value of the "‘try" depends on the total number of "pou" touched before hand – the more "pou" touched the higher the "try" value. Each pou touched is worth 1 point if the try is successfully scored. Therefore "try" values vary from one to seven points.

--› Note : only the Kioma player, with the ball in hand, can run into the "Te Roto" zone. Once in that zone they can not pass the ball.

At the start of play the Taniwha team have their players positioned thus – seven players anywhere in the "Te Roto" and "Te Ao" zones.

The Taniwha players attempt to get the ball off the Kioma players. To do this they can tackle their opponents and try to rip the ball from their grasp. Most contestations for possession occur in the "Te Ao" zone.

The Taniwha players must also prevent the Kioma side from gaining touches (Māori term ‘Wharongo’) on the boundary ‘pou’ and from scoring "tries".

When the Taniwha players get possession of the ball in the "Te Ao" zone they quickly pass the ball to their players in the "Te Roto" zone because the Kioma players can attempt to regain possession.

The Taniwha players in the “Te Roto” zone can handle the ball in any way they want.

They can hand pass, bounce and kick the ball to each other when attempting to score on the Tupu (the large centre target). However, to score a Tupu Wairua, the ball must firstly make contact (e.g. bounce) in the Pawero zone, or be deflected off a Pawero player onto the Tupu – the ball cannot hit the Tupu on the full directly from a Taniwha player throw or kick. If it does the Tupu Wairua is disallowed.

A Ki-o-Rahi match is divided into quarters. Sides swap around from Kioma Team mode to Taniwha Team mode each quarter. The Kioma side always start the quarter with a throw in from the "Te Marama" circle.

After each "try" is scored the ball is thrown in again by a Kioma player positioned in the "Te Marama" circle.

After a "hit" is scored, the ball is immediately placed in the "Te Roto" zone for Taniwha team possession.

Fast play should always be encouraged, and time wasting discouraged. If necessary time limits should be imposed to quicken play up.

  If the Kioma team has not touched a "‘pou" within 30 seconds, or managed to score a "try" within 60 seconds, the ball possession should be given to the Taniwha side.

  If the Taniwha team has not at least had a kick at the "Tupu", within 30 seconds, the ball possession should be given to the Kioma players in the "Pawero" zone.

  Once they have possession, the Kioma players in the "Pawero" zone should be given no longer than seven seconds to throw the ball to their team mates in the "Te Ao" zone.

The concept of "Tewhatewha" :

One player from each side is responsible for their players sticking to the agreed rules – these players are called "Tewhatewha".

These two referees work together, and communicate throughout the game. "Tewhatewha" need to inform their players when they are getting close to breaking the rules – and if rules are blatantly breached, that player needs to take personal responsibility and take themselves out of the game (commonly for 30 seconds).

Rules can be added or amended to fit in with the flow of the game and wishes of the players.

Once opposing teams have agreed on the rules they will play to, it is expected that these will be adhered to. Rules to determine tackle style (whether full contact or "scrag" or a touch variation) need to be decided. It is usual for over vigorous tacklers to be substituted, or to have a 30 second "sit down" on the field or on the boundary.

Ball possession then goes to the non-offending side that quickly restarts play anywhere on the field.

It is common to play seven players aside on the field at once – eight if the "Tewhatewha" is a non-player. Any number of substitutions can be made. But player numbers are flexible, although three Kioma players in the "Pawero" is usually the maximum allowable, unless there are more than twelve players aside.

The Kioma players in the "Pawero" zone cannot interfere with play, or attempt to get the ball in the "Te Roto" zone. These "‘Pawero" players cannot run through the "Te Wairua" zone or handle the ball in this area unless it has stopped.

The "Kahaaraiti" circle is "in" for both teams, which means the ball possession can be contested for on that 200 mm wide line. The Kioma players in Te Ao cannot interfere with play, or attempt to get the ball, in the "Te Roto" zone. Only one Kioma player, who is carrying the ball, can enter the "Te Roto".

Kioma players in the "Pawero" zone and the "Te Ao" zone can swap positions by running along the "Te Ara" – players in the "Pawero" zone can also assist their "Te Ao" zone team mates by running out along the "Te Ara". Kioma players in the "Te Ara" zone cannot interfere with play or handle the ball.

The Taniwha players can occupy both the "Te Ao" and "Te Roto" zones. They cannot interfere with play inside the "Te Marama" or "Pawero" zones. They can attempt to intercept the throw-ins from the "Te Marama" zone. They cannot interfere with Kioma players running along the "Te Ara".