1
TJ Perenara clarifies reference to the Treaty in All Blacks' Haka
By Ben Smith
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
“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.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Go behind the scenes of both camps during the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021. Binge watch exclusively on RugbyPass TV now
If 42 King's Counsel lawyers independently told the NZ government that the Treaty Bill is completely unnecessary, that they should abandon it and it attempts to rewrite the Treaty itself, then you know you've stuffed up royally. Good on ya TJ!
Balls - it was a misguided and unsanctioned dig into matters he (like 95% of the anti-Bill crowd) completely misunderstand and misrepresent. Good riddance to this bench warmer.
Another neocapitalist ignoramus comment. NEXT.
Excellent work TJ standing up for Te Titiri o Waitangi and our country's founding constitutional document. Down with the haters! The haka is the perfect place to express yourselves and show unity as a team against a right wing government that is trying to slowly remove indigenous rights. We are proud to tautoko the Toitu te Tiriti movement!
Tautoko that. The All Blacks represent us all, TJ put out a message of unity. The Man.
Tautoko this!
Perenara is super woke, the treaty of long ago is irrelevant to a game of rugby in Italy. By referencing it and claiming the countries going through tough times is clearly because Perenara doesn't agree with the democratically elected government of New Zealand that people from all ethnicities voted for. Perenara is making it divisive and political despite many of his team mates that wouldn't agree with his decision. The Allblacks saved this year's worst performance to combine it with the most divisive haka statement. Perhaps it's overdue now for NZ rugby to leave the haka for home games only, ensure that only the players that want to do it are included and never again have 'insertions' added by political activist players.
Only 8% of the NZ voting base voted for the Act party, so it does not represent "all people". You sound super upset and sensitive because Perenara spoke out about something you don't like, which is a precious far right-wing party trying to rewrite New Zealand’s founding document to suit a particular political agenda that disenfranchises the indigenous people and wants to eradicate their culture through assimilation and domination. Your perspective is skewed tbh. Your comment about Perenara being "super woke" shows your fragility and xenophobia. Maybe the All Blacks should stop doing any haka so that Maori culture isn't displayed for financial benefits and entertainment. Do you know what the other players in the team think? Are they your mates and you rang them straight after the game to get their thoughts? How did the Hurricane Poua debacle go? Any sponsors pull out yet???
Yeah, I'm down with unity.
E pai ana o korero TJ.
Unity!