For decades, Touch has existed in the background of Aotearoa sport — a game that’s built communities, shaped athletes, and connected whānau across generations, yet rarely receives the spotlight it deserves. It’s the sport that’s always there: down at the local fields, during lunch time at school, and behind the foundations of some of our greatest sporting stars. But for too long, our sport hasn’t been given the acknowledgment that it should.
The People's Game features some of the greatest names to be associated with Touch.
That changes with The People’s Game, a brand-new six-part docuseries now streaming worldwide on Māori+. Produced by Tipi Haere Productions, the series dives deep into the history, culture, and soul of Touch in Aotearoa — and the people who’ve kept it alive through passion, perseverance, and community spirit.
Each episode runs around 35-40 minutes, exploring the people and stories of our game from grassroots to the world stage. It’s a portrayal of a sport that has long been dismissed as “just social,” or “for those who don’t play tackle.”
The People’s Game challenges that narrative head-on, showing that Touch is so much more — a player pathway, a family sport, a national passion, and a global movement.
Mr. Touch Peter Walters reflecting on some of his memorabilia in the pilot episode.
Featuring some of the greatest names to ever grace the Touch field — including Peter Walters, Drumayne Dayberg-Muir, Jean Waaka, Remus Gentles and Dylan Hennessey, to name a few — the series is a reminder that while Touch might not have the financial power or commercial reach of other codes, its influence runs deep through the sporting DNA of this country.
Often categorised as a pastime rather than a performance sport, The People’s Game shows that this code has produced, influenced, and sustained some of New Zealand’s most elite athletes, and continues to play a crucial role in developing the next generation. The likes of Nehe Milner-Skudder, Richie Mo’unga, Jenny-May Clarkson, Vanessa Cootes, Niall Williams-Guthrie, Renee Woodman-Wickliffe, Eric Rush and Stacey Waaka all make an appearance, bringing their own story of how Touch shaped them — as players and as people.
Black Ferns' Stacey Waaka is one of many pro footy stars that feature in the series.
But their stories aren’t just empty words. There’s the sense of truth in every one. And the stories they tell echo what we see at Touch tournaments up and down the country each and every summer. They remind us why we play, why we coach, why we give back — and most importantly, why we keep coming back.
This series gives our game its moment — one that’s been long overdue. It captures the essence of why Touch matters, not just in Aotearoa, but across the world.
The People’s Game deserves the support of every player, coach, referee, and spectator who’s ever pulled on a Touch jersey or stood on the sideline. Watch it. Share it. Talk about it. Because more people need to see what the true impact of our sport really is.