TJ Perenara clarifies reference to the Treaty in All Blacks' Haka

Departing All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara has clarified the reference to the Treaty in the Haka before playing Italy, emphasizing its role in unifying people of Aotearoa.

Perenara clarified that the first line spoken meant “this Haka is for everyone in Aotearoa” and said the intent was to unite the country back home.

“We’ve been away from home and seen the unity and the unification of our people back home, all people of Aotearoa and paying homage to us as people, and showing unification together as one,” Perenara said.

“And like we, countries go through tough times. People go through tough times, families go through tough times.

“And for us to pay homage to the unification of all of us is something that wanted to do and that we wanted to do, which was important.”

The reference to “Te Tiriti o Waitangi” in the Haka was not used in a political or divisive way Perenara said.

“Stand and pay respect to our whenua, which is our whenua, mana mo te Haki, which is our sovereignty, everyone’s sovereignty,” Perenara explained.

“Te Tiriti o Waitangi, stand tall, stand proud and stand on Te Tiriti o Waitangi. So uniting us all as people.

“I know some people might see or try and make it political or divisive, but for us, unity and being together is important, especially as Maori.”

“For me Haka is important for me. Haka is something I grew up with, and Haka is something that is gifted from Maori to a lot of New Zealand, and we use Haka in a lot of different realms and a lot of different places.

“But ultimately, Haka is Maori, and for us to be able to to use Haka in that way, and again, people will try to say that it was divisive, but for us and for the way that we use Haka tonight, was to unify us.”