Hurricanes reportedly set to apologise over Poua’s ‘redneck government’ haka

Super Rugby Aupiki side, the Hurricanes Poua, is set to apologise to the government over a controversial haka that is overshadowing the opening round of the competition.

Before the Poua’s season opener against the Chiefs Manawa at the weekend, the Wellington based side performed a haka that contained the words "karetao o te Kāwana kakiwhero" which translates in English to "puppets of this redneck government".

Hurricanes Chief Executive Avan Lee says they were disappointed by the haka and even more so that there was no consultation between the club and the Poua players.

Lee says that some of the words used, were interpreted to be very strong and he confirmed the Hurricanes club would be making a formal apology to the coalition government.

The executive plans to find out who was behind the decision to alter the words of the haka but does not expect the Poua or its players to face any disciplinary action.

He says the Hurricanes shouldn't be making any political statement, and if they do it needs to be agreed across the organisation because they have got players and staff who are not comfortable with what is being said.

Lee says making a political statement is inappropriate - whether they are saying 'the government is great or the government is not great' that's not their role.

However, the Poua’s haka leader Leilani Perese has told TVNZ that she presented the altered haka to her team's management before it was performed and they had said to go for it and they were backing them 100 percent.

 Source: Stuff.co