NZ Rugby Team Again Takes Aim at Conservative Government Despite Earlier Incident

The NZ Hurricanes Poua Woman’s rugby team has used a pre-match haka to again challenge the government, after management warned them over an earlier incident.

Leilani Perese of the Hurricanes Poua leads a haka during the round two Super Rugby Aupiki match between Hurricanes Poua and Matatu at Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand on March 9, 2024. Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

The New Zealand Hurricanes Super Rugby women’s team, the Poua, have used a pre-game haka to again challenge the conservative government, despite a warning from the franchise’s CEO over an earlier incident.

Last week the team altered the words of their ceremonial dance before their Super Rugby Aupiki season opener against the Chiefs Manawa to include the phrase, “Karetao o te Kāwana kakiwhero,” which translates to “puppets of this redneck government.”