The women’s team used a pre-match haka to criticise the government. Team management says it was not consulted, and the Poua will apologise.
Wellington-based professional women’s rugby team, The Hurricanes, will issue an apology to the New Zealand government after a haka, a Maori ceremonial war dance, labelled the government “redneck.”
The team, known as the Poua, used an altered haka that included the phrase “karetao o te Kāwana kakiwhero” which translates as “puppets of this redneck government,” before the Super Rugby Aupiki season opener against the Chiefs Manawa.
Hurricanes CEO Avan Lee said he was disappointed, confirming there was no consultation with management before the performance by the players.
“Certainly disappointed. There was no discussion, no consultation, and some of the words that were used, were interpreted to be very strong,” he said.
“The Hurricanes shouldn’t be making any political statement. If they do it needs to be agreed across the organisation because we have got players and staff who are not comfortable with what is being said.
“There are obviously players and staff who agree with it, but that is missing the point …we were blindsided,” Mr. Lee said.
He said it was important for people and players to be able to give their views in an individual capacity.
“The big difference here is that a team has made a statement about a political situation and I think that is inappropriate. Whether they’re saying ’the government is great or the government is not great’, that’s not our role,” he said.
“Our vision is to unite and excite and this thing is the furtherest from unite.”
However, while he did not expect any disciplinary action to be taken against the players he still wanted to understand who was behind the decision to go ahead with the altered haka.The Poua’s haka leader Leilani Perese has told the media that she presented the altered haka to the team’s management before it was performed.
“I sent it to management at the last minute,” she said. “They were like ‘go for it. We back you 100 percent.’”
“I believe in what we’re saying, I stand by it. I believe that in rugby, we have a platform where people watch and listen. And why not use our platform to show our people we will never fold? To tell the government that we are stronger than ever, and we will never go down without a war.”
Sports and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop disagreed with the claims raised during the controversial haka but acknowledged it as “free speech.”
“New Zealanders will make their own judgements, as will Wellington fans of the Hurricanes,” Mr. Bishop said.
Following the match, where Chiefs Manawa went on to win the match 46-24, Deputy Prime Minister and New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters tweeted: “Perhaps if they focussed more on tackling and catching the ball instead of expending all their energy performing a haka trying too hard to attack the government they may not have been thrashed so badly.”
“I don’t see the world number one Black Ferns doing that.”