They've gone.
The baseball team are defunct, but the Auckland Tuatara Basketball team is up & going (established 2022). Be great if Auckland can have a Maori moniker, as long as it's not kitsch. I like Tuatara.
And re NZ football and Maori/Pacific players. Is actually quite a few recently in the AWs - Boxalls, Mata, Stamenic, Lewis, Crocombe, Rufer, Tuiloma, Rogerson. Further back Reid, Rory, TAHW, Dyer, Bertos & Christie. Tamati Williams. Harry Ngata. Wynton & Shane. No doubt I'm missing someone. Champness? I know his mum is Filipino.
Tuiloma would be a great first Auckland captain. Strong Auckland Pasika connections. A statement pick.