2006 Kapa O Pango controversy

In 2006, "Kapa o Pango", the new haka of the New Zealand rugby union team, the All Blacks created much controversy when a gesture of a thumb drawn down the throat was interpreted by many observers as implying throat slitting. The gesture as understood by the All Blacks and Māori has a significantly different meaning, of "hauora", drawing the breath of life into the heart and lungs.

Many have called for the "Kapa o Pango" haka to be banned, either by the International Rugby Board (IRB) or the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU),cite web | publisher=newstalkzb.co.nz | title=Debate flares again on controversial haka | url=http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=100472| accessdate=28 July | accessyear=2006] most notably Australian coach John Connolly. A poll conducted in early July showed 60% of the New Zealand population support the new haka.cite web | publisher=tvnz.co.nz | title=New haka gets public approval | url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/417227/779048| accessdate=1 August | accessyear=2006]

History

The All Blacks first performed "Kapa o Pango" against South Africa at Carisbrook in Dunedin on August 27, 2005, after having used the "Ka Mate" haka for almost a century.cite web | publisher=planetrugby.com | title=Kapa O Pango gets green light | url=http://www.planet-rugby.com/Teams/New_Zealand/story_52333.shtml| accessdate=29 July | accessyear=2006]

International reaction

John Smit, the Springbok captain who faced the debut performance of "Kapa o Pango", said after the match: "To stand there and watch it for the first time was a privilege." [cite news
last=Stokes
first=Jon
url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10342926
title=New haka the cutting edge of sport
date= 2005-08-29
publication=The New Zealand Herald
accessdate=2006-08-24] "The Daily Telegraph" columnist Mick Cleary criticised the new haka as "unmistakeably [sic] provocative … There is a fine line and the All Blacks crossed it. Carisbrook is a rugby field not a back-street alley." [cite news
last=Cleary
first=Mick
url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2005/09/06/srmick06.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/09/06/ixportal.html
title=Cut-throat haka does All Blacks no favours
date=06/09/2005
publication=The Daily Telegraph
accessdate=2006-08-24] French coach Bernard Laporte has told New Zealand not to perform "Kapa o Pango" during their November, 2006 tour of France, claiming that "It's no good for the promotion of our sport." [cite news
last=Matheson
first=John
url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/sundaynews/0,2106,3755968a15599,00.html
title=French weigh in to haka debate
date=2006-08-06
publication=Sunday News
accessdate=2006-08-24]

NZRU review

In 2006, during Ireland's tour of New Zealand, the NZRU put the haka on a temporary hiatus, to review its appropriateness, by asking the All Blacks not to perform it against Ireland.cite web | publisher=tvnz.co.nz | title=Throat-slitting haka upsets NZRU | url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/454218/744507| accessdate=2 August | accessyear=2006] The NZRU stated that members of the New Zealand public objected to the gesture. In conducting the review, the NZRU consulted members of the All Blacks and in Māoridom.

During the review, a Colmar Brunton poll conducted for the NZRU found that 88% of the 500 people surveyed supported the All Blacks performing a haka, and 60% supported "Kapa o Pango" being performed as a possible alternative to "Ka Mate" before test matches. Views on the gesture varied, with 46% saying that the gesture should be left, while 37% believing that it should be removed. 17% had no opinion.

The NZRU later released a statement at the end of the review, the day of the opening match of the 2006 Tri Nations Series, stating that the ending of the haka had been misunderstood by members of society, and that the NZRU would stand by the "Kapa o Pango" haka.cite web| publisher=NZCity | title=Controversy over haka, Jerry Collins |url=http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/default.asp?id=63796&c=w| accessdate=2 August | accessyear=2006] The CEO of the NZRU, Chris Moller, said that the haka's final words, "ha", mean "breath of life". "Kapa o Pango" was performed later that day against Australia, which was seen by many as an unexpected return.cite web | publisher= The New Zealand Herald | title=New haka here to stay|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=4&ObjectID=10390449| accessdate=2 August | accessyear=2006]

2006 Tri Nations series - Brisbane test

In Bledisloe Cup week in Brisbane during the 2006 Tri Nations series, the debate continued in the week leading up to the Test. Wallabies head-coach Connolly criticised the Kapa O Pango.cite web | publisher=theage.com.au | title=All Blacks coach slams haka criticism | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/All-Blacks-coach-slams-haka-criticism/2006/07/28/1153816359796.html| accessdate=28 July | accessyear=2006] Wayne Smith, assistant coach of the All Blacks, said that "We do it for ourselves, it's who we are, it's been written by the team and it's significant to the team. We feel comfortable with it."cite web | publisher=xtramsn.co.nz | title=ABs Not Backing Down Over Haka | url=http://xtramsn.co.nz/rugby/0,,12428-6098324,00.html| accessdate=28 July | accessyear=2006]

Ultimately, however, "Kapa o Pango" was not performed before the match, with the All Blacks reverting to the traditional "Ka Mate" haka. Commentators explained this switch as being due to respect—prior to the first Bledisloe Cup match, the Australian media had made repeated reference to the 2006 rugby union handbag controversy, which caused the All Blacks to lose respect for their opposition. As this had now been restored, the traditional haka was performed.

ee also

*2006 rugby union handbag controversy

Notes

External links

* [http://www.nzallblacks.net/haka.asp "Kapa o Pango" haka lyrics]
* [http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2007/06/kapa-o-pango-vs-france-2007.html "Kapa o Pango" video vs France 2007]