Perenara stands with Poua
All Blacks star TJ Perenara has thrown his support behind the Hurricanes Poua following their recent haka controversy, saying he shares similar views to the women’s team.
The Poua caused a stir when they referred to the “puppets of this redneck government” in the haka they performed before their first game of the Super Rugby Aupiki season, against Chiefs Manawa.
Perenara was asked about the Poua haka after making his first start for the unbeaten Hurricanes men’s team since returning from a long-term Achilles injury in last Friday’s win against the Melbourne Rebels.
While Hurricanes management said they did not approve of some of the wording in the original haka, Perenara told media yesterday the haka was a way for Māori to express themselves and he stood by the team and what they said.
“I share similar views to our women and what was said. I back our women and stand with our women,” Perenara said.
“Haka is something that we as Māori use to express ourselves, whether that’s through celebration or through frustration.
“A lot of people who have spoken on haka only want to see one side of haka. They say I want this side but you can’t do it for that reason, and that’s not OK to me.
“We use haka to express ourselves for whatever emotion we are feeling.”
The Poua performed a different haka in their second match, against South Island side Matatū, following consultation with Hurricanes management, New Zealand Rugby Kaihautu (chief adviser Māori) Luke Crawford and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association.
After it was originally misinterpreted by some as doubling down on their criticism of the Government, the Hurricanes clarified the meaning of the revised haka.
Said Poua coach Ngatai Walker: “We understand there may be misinterpretation of individual words of this haka, but the intent of the meaning is, ‘Aotearoa unite, Hurutearangi [female god of the wind] has arrived; challenges may come and go, but we will endure’.”
Poua did not perform a haka against the Blues in round three, but did when they met the Chiefs Manawa again in Palmerston North last Friday.
The Hurricanes said before kickoff that Friday’s haka paid respect to the people and land of Manawatū as well as to the strength of women.
Perenara has been known for speaking out on social issues in the past, including equality.
The veteran halfback wore rainbow laces on his boots in a further show of solidarity after voicing his support for the LGBTQIA+ community following anti-gay comments made by controversial former Wallabies player Israel Folau.
Perenara, 32, will become the Hurricanes’ all-time leading appearance-maker the next time he takes the field.