Buck finding his ‘Maori world’ in his 60s
One of rugby’s original “hard men”, credited with revitalising the haka in the All Blacks, wants to see New Zealand further embrace te reo Ma¯ ori.
In 1985, former All Black captain Wayne “Buck” Shelford and teammate Hika Reid were asked to coach the haka to their fellow players.
“I said, ‘I don’t have a problem’,” Shelford said.
“Hika said, ‘I don’t have a problem’. We both said, ‘As long as we practise’. Pa¯keha¯ don’t have much rhythm.”
So the pair trained their teammates, simplifying the actions for them.
“It was all about making sure we didn’t embarrass ourselves in front of the world and in front of our own Ma¯ ori people. We got it right, though, and the haka has just grown exponentially from there.”
Originally the haka was only performed before overseas All Blacks test matches.
Now it is performed in all All Blacks matches, and has spread through all of the franchises including the Black Ferns, New Zealand Ma¯ori and male and female sevens teams. A new book from respected British journalist Peter Bills — The Jersey — reignited discussion over the role the haka played for the All Blacks.
Interviews with ex-All Blacks Sir Colin Meads and Kees Meeuws revealed frustrations about the heavy use of the haka, and the team’s mental skills coach, Gilbert Enoka, revealed some All Blacks had previously felt “haka-ed out” and some “hated” having to constantly perform the Ka Mate version.
But Shelford did not see the haka going anywhere, anytime soon.
“I love the haka. For me, when they get put on the television, that is New Zealand Ma¯ori, that is us, Kiwi.”
Now Shelford, of Nga¯puhi descent, wanted
New Zealand to take it further, and fully embrace te reo Ma¯ori.
“Many can do kapahaka but not speak. I think, well, if you can learn a haka you can learn the reo.”
Shelford’s
Ma¯ orispeaking father spoke English to his children, and he wasn’t taught at school.
Shelford took on the te reo learning journey as an adult, beginning with night classes at Te Ataarangi and later a full year’s immersion programme at Te Wa¯nanga o Raukawa.
He could speak with his ka¯umatua (elders) but found it hard to find opportunities to use the language in the Pa¯keha¯ circles he moves in.
“My wife is tu¯ turu [committed] Ma¯ori, she speaks more reo than I. We both try and do as much as we can, especially teaching our moko [grandchildren]. “We believe it should be in every school in New Zealand, we should all be learning it. “Growing up in a Pa¯keha¯ world, I know that world very well. Now I am finding my Ma¯ori world in my 50s and 60s, but I could have