Hurricanes CEO Avan Lee during a press conference at the Rugby Football Union offices in Wellington. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
- The Hurricanes have apologized after the women's team used the haka to criticize the New Zealand government.
- The Hurricane women tried to portray the government as “redneck.”
- Racial tensions have been rising in New Zealand since the new government took office last year.
- For more sports news, news 24 sports cover.
The Hurricanes rugby team said on Wednesday it had apologized to the New Zealand government after the women's team used the traditional haka dance to accuse the New Zealand government of a coalition of “rednecks”.
The Hurricanes changed the lyrics of their dance before Saturday's Women's Super Rugby match in Hamilton to refer to “redneck government” in Maori.
The haka is a fierce war dance that was created to prepare Maori warriors for battle, but was later adopted by the New Zealand rugby team.
Read | All Blacks' Jordie Barrett suspended for three weeks
The head of the Hurricanes, who run the men's and women's Super Rugby teams, said he had apologized to Sports Minister Chris Bishop. “We have reached out,” Hurricanes CEO Avan Lee told AFP.
Racial tensions have been rising in New Zealand since the new government took office last year.
The three-party ruling coalition has announced plans to review the nation's founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, sparking concerns among Maori people who fear losing their rights to autonomy and protection.
Protests took place across the country when parliament opened in December.
The Hurricanes manager said the organization was blindsided by his team's modified haka, which was performed ahead of their heavy loss away to Chiefs Manawa.
“There was no discussion or consultation like I expected,” Lee added.
“It's not the Hurricanes' role to make political statements, especially when the entire organization doesn't agree with it.”
The rugby director said he had made it “very clear” to team management what he expected for the future. “As for political statements, that's not what we do here,” Lee added.
He said he did not know whether semi-professional female players would be fined or fined.
“We need to get to the bottom of it and understand what's behind it and how we should move forward.”
The rant about a “redneck government” drew criticism of Hurricane from Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.
Peters posted on social media I can't do it,” he posted.
“I can't imagine the Black Ferns, number one in the world, doing something like that,” she said, referring to the reigning world champion New Zealand women's rugby team.
Perhaps if they had focused more on tackling and catching the ball instead of spending all their energy doing a full-on haka to attack the government, they might not have been beaten so badly. do not have.
I can't imagine the world number one Black Ferns doing something like that. pic.twitter.com/wa1mfsUh29
— Winston Peters (@winstonpeters) March 5, 2024