Nick Mills: Using a team haka for personal, political gain is despicable

The Hurricanes Poua team performed a haka before its first game of the Super Rugby Aupiki season last weekend, which was critical of the coalition government.

They altered the haka, and referred to people being "puppets of this redneck government".

Many times, over many years, I've said that politics and sport have no place on the same grounds. I've also felt that the respect that the haka is held in is sometimes questioned.

I have seen some of the most amazing haka performed that would bring tears to your eyes, and I've also seen it used in places that a haka shouldn't be. And I'm sure, yesterday at the Wellington secondary schools McEvedy Shield athletics meet, there would have been some of the best haka in the nation.

For a sporting team to use the haka for personal, political gains, for me is despicable. And for a team to use it as a statement about a political situation I feel is totally inappropriate.

Hurricanes CEO Avan Lee initially said they were looking into it, but there was no intention for disciplinary action.

He made it clear they're not supportive of the language used in the haka and don't wait it used again.

Lee also said he would be apologising to the Government.

I feel for Avan Lee - he's in a position he didn't know he would be, the actions had nothing to do with him, and he's been pushed in front of a very loaded bus. How he's going to get out of this situation I don't know, and my thoughts are with him.

However, trustee for Women in Rugby Aotearoa Alice Soper backed what the players were doing.

Soper supported the players doing the same haka again in round two this weekend, because "women's sports have a history of their origins coming from protest."

Well, Alice, I hope you are in the stands and I hope you take a lot of friends, as there weren't many people in that stadium watching the haka the other day.

And if I was going to make a political stand in my haka, and I was in women's rugby, I'd be saying to people "Come on, the challenge is for you to come and support us, pack the stadium, pack the ground so we can get paid more money".

If this happened under my control, i.e. with the Saints basketball team, I'd have no hesitation in apologising quickly. I would say to all our stakeholders - our sponsors, our customers, people that pay to go and watch the game, and anyone that's associated with the club over all the years - I'm sorry.

And if players under my watch were involved in a political protest, using our Saints brand, that's been there for 40 years and with hundreds of players before them, and hundreds after them, they'd be given a severe speech.

I'd ask them if they wanted still to be involved in the organisation that was promoting them, promoting their sport, and paying them, and if you want to be political, go and be a politician.

Go and stand for a party and promote your personal thoughts and idealism.

We're a sporting team, and we're here to play sport and entertain. We're not a vehicle to promote your personal agenda.

Nick Mills is host of Newstalk ZB's Wellington Mornings show, and owner of the Wellington Saints NBL basketball team.

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