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Hurricanes investigate offensive politically-driven haka by Poua
By Ben Smith
The Hurricanes are looking into the altered haka that the Poua used before the Super Rugby Aupiki opener against Chiefs Manawa which took aim at the coalition government.
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The haka’s leader, prop Leilani Perese, spoke the Maori phrase “karetao o te Kawana kakiwhero” before the start of the haka which translates in English as “puppets of this redneck government”.
The amended version of the haka was completed by composer Hinewai Pomare after players reached out, and then sent to Hurricanes’ management “at the last minute” before the game to receive backing.
The composer said that the players were “frustrated” by the political environment and looking for “words to reflect that” and “add a bit of spice” to the haka.
“I sent it to management at the last minute. They were like ‘go for it. We back you 100 per cent,'” Perese said.
Perese said the message was politically driven to take a stand against coalition government policy towards Maori and that they will “never fold”.
“I don’t care. I believe in what we’re saying, I stand by it,” she said.
“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?
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“To tell the government that we are stronger than ever, and we will never go down without a war.
“We wanted it to represent not just Maori, but people of all races and cultures. When we say ‘taku iwi tuohu kore e!’ that means ‘what will always last is our people, we will never fold.’
“Whether we’re Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Indian, what have you. I thought it was important for us to say because we’ve got a lot of other ethnicities in our team.
“I wanted to make sure it wasn’t just about one culture, it’s about all of us,” she said.
RNZ reports that Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee will comment publicly at some stage after the franchise completes its review.
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Go girls. I am proud of you. Kia kaha nga wahine toa!
Of course the hurricanes are in damage control, there is a lot of money involved.
Of course sports people will use their platforms to address their grievances, that’s not new.
Either embrace the haka and the values of haka or not.
Don’t get all proud when times and good and it’s a brand marketing tool, then get upset when it’s used to draw attention to serious political issues.
Sport is 100% about politics. Why else do countries bid so much to host Olympic Games?
This seems to have stirred quite a reaction from the rednecks.
Including politics in the haka is nonsense.
They are professionals, performing for the organization that hires them.
No politics should be allowed.
Why should fans have to bear whatever political views players have?
What if people working in the Hurricanes organization think otherwise?
They do not get the chance to express that just because they work in a less exposed part of the Hurricanes’ organization?
Is #RedneckHaka trending yet?
This is a never ending campaign of grip esegui which causes even more racism. These protesters should realise that most of them have blood from another ethnicity that they conveniently forget when needed.
Remember all your roots and stop stirring up trouble which results in an environment where your whanau from all sides suffers.
And who pays their way……..the redneck Govt I presume. This is racism at its worst by an ungrateful mob of numpties
Don’t leave out the details. What exactly is their grievance?
No judgment on the political views of the players, they are allowed to have such opinions.
But someone should tell them: National, New Zealand First, and ACT voters watch rugby too. Perhaps a fledgling competition that is trying to grow should avoid alienating half (or more than half) of their potential audience?