Kaihaka and reo expert Mataia Keepa says it's "absolutely humbling to witness" the Hurricanes Poua team expressing their thoughts.
The Hurricanes Poua called out the coalition Government in a pre-match haka over the weekend. An additional segment was added to the start of the haka where the kaitātaki led with the lyrics “karetao o te Kāwana kakī whero” or “puppets of the redneck government” before the team joined in to acknowledge He Whakaputanga (the Declaration of Independence) and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The incident has triggered an internal review by the Hurricanes.
Keepa, who has an extensive background in broadcasting, education and the arts, and is a former member of two-time Te Matatini Kapa Haka champs Te Mātārae i Ōrehu, said kapa haka was a means of projecting what was in people’s hearts and minds, and to witness the team doing that was special.
Wellington-based team altered haka their haka to add the words "karetao o te Kāwana kakiwhero", translating to "puppets of this redneck government". (Source: 1News)
“It's an absolute privilege to see that come to fruition in the form of a haka and for our wāhine to decide to go down the route of doing a haka, it's absolutely humbling to witness and… absolutely heroic, wāhine mā.”
Keepa said he understood there were rules that companies must follow and that the franchise is apologising, but for Māori, “kāore tātou e whakapāha mō ētahi momo haka pērā (we don’t apologise for haka like that).”
He said he had seen "a lot more gruesome" haka being accepted without apology.
“I think a haka like this is overly important during these times because haka, protest, lectures, wānanga reo, kura reo and things of that nature help shape the conscious of society.”
“This is purely a reflection of the feelings of not only Māori, but of the nation towards the dysfunctions of this country, towards this Government, and how disappointed and upset we are with the direction in which this country is heading.”
Glossary
Kaihaka – performer
Haka – Māori cultural dance
Kaitātaki – leader
Karetao – puppet
Kakī whero – redneck
He Whakaputanga – The Declaration of Independence 1835 signed by northern chiefs
Te Mātārae i Ōrehu – Te Arawa-based haka group, Te Matatini 2011 & 2000 champions
Wāhine – women
Whakapāha – apology, apologise
Wānanga reo – language forum
Kura reo – language forum.
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