Six nations have joined forces to promote Māori and Pasifika rugby league in New Zealand, with the launch of the Pasifika Aotearoa Rugby League Collective.

Organisations representing Tokelau, Fiji, Tonga, the Cook Islands, Niue and the New Zealand Māori Rugby League signed a memorandum of understanding in Auckland with support from New Zealand Rugby League, acknowledging a partnership of working together moving forward.

The aim is to bring Māori and Pasifika communities together through rugby league with culture at the forefront.

Joining us this morning we have Casey Smith to talk about the significance of the recent launch of Pasifika Aotearoa Collective and encouraging more women into the sport as well as management.

Casey serves a trustee for the Auckland Niue Rugby League committee who were instrumental in bringing the Pasifika Aotearoa collective together.