All Blacks haka: TJ Perenara’s statement that split the team

It was a haka that divided public opinion and the All Blacks senior playing group; coaches and management don’t feel they gave their consent for Perenara to politicise the message in the way that he did.

It’s unclear who within the team knew that Perenara was going to say something before the haka, but a significant number of players – even some senior leaders – were unaware that there would be a mihi.

Those who did know that Perenara was going to say something only learned about it a few hours before the game kicked off at 9pm local time on November 23. They were told that it would be a message of unity.

The Herald spoke with a range of people with detailed knowledge about how events transpired and none said they were aware that there would be any mention of the Treaty of Waitangi. Reference to the Treaty was deemed by the playing and management group to have changed Perenara’s promised message of unity to one which was overtly political, divisive and unapproved by the whole team.

Earlier that week in New Zealand, tens of thousands of people marched to Parliament to protest the Treaty Principles Bill being promoted by Act Party leader David Seymour, as well as a raft of other policies that look set to impact upon rights and obligations enshrined by Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The Herald has been told that the issue of Perenara saying something before the haka was not aired at a leaders meeting – which the veteran halfback attended – on the Monday before the Italy test.

But while there was no official request, it is believed there may have been informal discussions – the frequency and intensity of which increased as protests played out in New Zealand.

A few hours before kick-off, the coaching and management group, as well as a few players, became aware that Perenara was no longer willing to lead the haka without being able to offer a message of unity.

The coaching team discussed risk-management strategies at that point, deciding that they didn’t want to drop Perenara out of the 23-man playing squad on the night he was due to sign off on what had been a memorable and illustrious career; they also didn’t want to switch haka leader at late notice as they were fearful that could be disruptive and so agreed that the veteran halfback could say something.

The specifics of what exactly would be said were never discussed, other than assurances were given that Perenara would deliver a message of unity.

Perenara, who is now playing in Japan, declined the opportunity to speak with the Herald for this story, but he did speak after the game to say: “We have been away from home and seen the unity and unification of our people back home – all people of Aotearoa.

“The country is going through tough times, people are going through tough times, and families are going through tough times. For us to pay homage to the unification of all of us, is something that we wanted to do, which is important to all of us.”

Asked whether he had mentioned the Treaty of Waitangi, Perenara said he had, interpreting what he said as: “Stand and pay respect to our whenua, to our sovereignty, everyone’s sovereignty, and stand tall, stand proud, stand on the Treaty of Waitangi.

“I know people might try to make that political or divisive, but for us unity and being together is important, especially in Māori.”

Shortly after the game kicked off, NZR posted footage of the haka on its social media accounts, but it had edited out the mihi.

Immediately after the game, it is understood that captain Scott Barrett and head coach Scott Robertson decided to support Perenara publicly – to not say they were uncomfortable with the process and execution of the haka.

“We asked him to explain what was the concept around it, and he said it was a sign of unity,” Robertson told Sky TV.

“Everyone was across it. He gets his chance to call that, and the rest of the team gets to do the haka.”

At the press conference, Barrett was asked whether Perenara had talked to him about the haka and if the veteran halfback had been specific about what he was going to say.

“He did. He said he was going to lead and say a wee mihi. I guess it was a message of unity and that is what he said.”

NZR was asked for comment but declined.

Gregor Paul is one of New Zealand’s most respected rugby writers and columnists. He has won multiple awards for journalism and has written several books about sport.