New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) will make good on its promise to send the Kiwis to Rarotonga next year for a test match against the Kukis, league legend Howie Tamati says.

Tamati who played 50 games for the Kiwis including 24 tests between 1979 and 1985 is in Rarotonga this week with four current Kiwis players as well as the teams football manager and former player Tony Kemp and trainer and former player Ruben Wiki.

The Kiwis group has been sent to the Cook Islands by NZRL as a kind of peace offering, after the Kiwis were pulled out of a test match against the Kuki side, which would have been played tonight.

Speaking at a lunch hosted by New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands John Carter on Tuesday, Tamati apologised on behalf of NZRL and said the decision not to go ahead with the scheduled test was extremely difficult.

Tamati has been chairman of New Zealand Maori Rugby League since 2004 and the convener of Kiwis selectors since 2007.

He says he will make sure 2012s inaugural Kiwis vs Kukis test is played in Rarotonga.

Also speaking at Tuesdays lunch at Ngatipa, Carter joked the Kukis are already one-up on the Kiwis by default.

Carter a rugby fan and player says the leadership demonstrated by Kiwis and Kukis players is commendable, and he thanks them for their time and energy spent helping the Cook Islands community.

All visiting rugby league players, from New Zealand and Australia, have participated in various activities while in Rarotonga recently giving particular attention to school children.

The Kiwis contingent departs tomorrow evening.

New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) will make good on its promise to send the Kiwis to Rarotonga next year for a test match against the Kukis, league legend Howie Tamati says.

Tamati who played 50 games for the Kiwis including 24 tests between 1979 and 1985 is in Rarotonga this week with four current Kiwis players as well as the teams football manager and former player Tony Kemp and trainer and former player Ruben Wiki.

The Kiwis group has been sent to the Cook Islands by NZRL as a kind of peace offering, after the Kiwis were pulled out of a test match against the Kuki side, which would have been played tonight.

Speaking at a lunch hosted by New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands John Carter on Tuesday, Tamati apologised on behalf of NZRL and said the decision not to go ahead with the scheduled test was extremely difficult.

Tamati has been chairman of New Zealand Maori Rugby League since 2004 and the convener of Kiwis selectors since 2007.

He says he will make sure 2012s inaugural Kiwis vs Kukis test is played in Rarotonga.

Also speaking at Tuesdays lunch at Ngatipa, Carter joked the Kukis are already one-up on the Kiwis by default.

Carter a rugby fan and player says the leadership demonstrated by Kiwis and Kukis players is commendable, and he thanks them for their time and energy spent helping the Cook Islands community.

All visiting rugby league players, from New Zealand and Australia, have participated in various activities while in Rarotonga recently giving particular attention to school children.

The Kiwis contingent departs tomorrow evening.