Missionaries introduced cricket to the South Pacific over a century ago.
In contrast with the English equivalent it is not unusual for fielders to dance a challenge to the batsman, while spectators encourage their side with a song. Jack Perkins looks at the inaugural Pacific Cricket tournament held in Auckland.
The programme opens with Samoan spectators singing to encourage their team at Auckland's Western Springs amphitheatre.
Television journalist Carol Archie explains how she and her Tongan partner Sefita Haole, came to organse the tournament. There were many different rules and styles of playing on different Pacific islands, so they have encouraged the teams to agree on one set of rules. AFFCO - who sell corned beef all over the Pacific - have sponsored the event.
For the round-robin tournament rules have been standardised with games set at a two-hour limit, but the atmosphere remains the same, with spectators singing and dancing and teams competing in lava-lava and t-shirts.
Niue's team captain talks about his role and the Auckland Niuean inter-village competition which takes place annually.
Jack Perkins talks about the history of the game in the Pacific, with huge teams and games lasting over several days.
Members of American Samoa's team talk about how the game is popular there despite the influence of American culture. Niue and American Samoa will be competing in the first game of the tournament.
An unidentified woman (American Samoan) explains the game as it gets underway. American Samoa made 97 runs and then an Auckland Niuean man talks about the game as it is played locally. He notes that Samoans blow whistles during the game but Niueans don't do this and the wickets are taller than Niuean wickets. He discusses the social aspect of the game on Niue.
A pākēha male spectator gives his impression of the game, which he says is more entertaining than European cricket, with a 'gala atmosphere'.
A team sings and a Samoan man talks about travelling between islands playing the game when he was younger. Latu Tolefoa [?] of the Western Samoan team is interviewed about the type of bat used - explaining how it is made.
Carol Archie explains even the singing by the 'lape' , the spectator group supporting the batters, is competitive. She talks about the special hand-made latex balls used in the game - they are hit a long way so many balls may be needed per game.
A woman explains some of the songs they are singing were especially composed and written for the Pacific Island Presbyterian church in Newton. She says when the women are playing, the men will sing in support of them.