S.A vs NZ Maori team - Your thoughts?
Red-tape threatens to stand in the way of the New Zealand Maori side making an historic tour of South Africa.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said earlier this week he wanted his side to face the Maori team in the lead-up to this year’s tour of South Africa by the British Lions.
The match had been pencilled in for Soweto.
However, SA Rugby has issued a statement saying that while discussions had begun over the possible New Zealand Maori/Springbok clash, significant work behind the scenes still had to be done.
That included working around a political stand to not allow the Boks to play against racially-selected teams.
Ironically, race is one of the selection criteria for the World Cup-winning Boks, with an accepted number of non-white players having to be named in each squad.
"SA Rugby would like to advise media on the background to speculation that a match is being arranged against the New Zealand Maori," the statement read.
"We can confirm that the New Zealand Rugby Union has inquired if there was an opportunity for the Maori team to appear in South Africa.
"SA Rugby is examining the possibility but no decision has been taken on whether the offer will be accepted and there are several obstacles to overcome should we wish to pursue the offer.
"They include the financial viability of the project, logistics around venues and player availability and the fundamental stumbling block of a long-established President’s Council resolution forbidding the appearance of SARU teams against opponents selected along racial lines.
"A final decision is not expected until the end of March."
The match would give New Zealand Maori a reprieve for this season.
The side looked set to be sidelined for 2009 after the NZRU cut them from its calendar as part of its cost-cutting moves.
de Villiers then revealed that the South African Rugby Union was in negotiations to bring the Maori side to South Africa to play the Springboks in June.
The match would be the Boks’ final warm-up match before the three-test series against the touring British Lions begins on June 20.
SARU has already confirmed a warm-up match against Namibia.
"We are playing them (Namibia) on May 29," de Villiers told Rapport.
"The game in Soweto is, however, subject to certain conditions and has not been finalised, but I hope it will happen.
"It will help me a great deal for my preparation. We can’t take on the Lions without warm-up games."
New Zealand Maori won last year’s Pacific Nations Cup.
They had previously taken part in the Churchill Cup, normally played in North America.
C’mon, people, you are being way too serious (and *way* too political) about this. NZ Maori is a mechanism to allow some more of the lads a chance to play very high-quality, representative rugby, thereby upgrading their experience, keeping them in the eye of the selectors, and generally improving competetive rugby overall in NZ. And high-quality rugby it is: they beat B&I Lions during the last tour, and regularly win the Churchill Cup in North America against the "A" sides from ENG, IRE, SCO and the national teams for Canada and USA. They would be a very good hit-out for the Boks, and provide high-quality, entertaining rugby for the RSA fans.
It also honors a long tradition of contribution of the Maori people to rugby in NZ; call it a cultural thing. But don’t get too hung up on the racial aspect - the qualifications are pretty loose: if I remember correctly, Christian Cullen - now there’s a old, traditional Maori name - lined up with them once or twice.
If you can round up a Kiwi with no Maori background, he’s still got proportionally more high-level rugby union available to him (ABs, Junior ABs, Super-14, and ANZ Cup provincial) than any other population on Earth. That’s not a racial situation that needs protecting in order to redress historical mistreatment or to calm our politically-correct nerves.
I’d like to see NZ Maori (now that they have lost NZRFU funding) operate a bit like the Barbarians - become a barn-storming, all-star team that everyone wants to play against. Maybe they modify the Barbaraian tradition (of one uncapped player), and select one non-Maori.
And then let’s all go out and and have some fun playing rugby.
Mark L.
Comments
Ironic isn’t it! No there should be no raced-based teams - after all isn’t that what the whole sprinbok protest debacle was about? but if NZ chooses to have race-based teams that’s ok? I think not and yes it should be scrapped.
=====
Oh Lordy here we go with the ‘we were here first’ business and ‘you’re a guest to our land’ nonsense. If you were to reverse it and say no-one with Maori blood could play in the all blacks you would have the right to object wouldn’t you? So let’s get real - what you’re saying is if you have a drop of Maori in you, then you can play for the NZ Maori team. How about the NZ Samoa team and the NZ Australian team. One naitonal team and that’s that.
References :
I think it’s SARU being rediculous. What’s wrong with a minoirty group expressing their pride?
For example, the Lebonese rugby team is made up entirely of Lesbonese 2nd generation or ex-pats that live in Australia, by that justification, since the Lebonese are a minority group in Australia, there should be no Lebonese rugby team.
However, if we made a ‘whites only’ rugby team, there would be hell to pay.
So make up your own mind.
EDIT:
New Zealand Maori is like Australia A, Most kiwi’s can trace some Maori blood in their heritage.
As for a 2nd team? They did that, they had one all black team touring Europe, undefeated I might add, & another touring Argentina, again undefeated.
The Maori team isn’t another ‘National team’ it’s made up of players who aren’t selected for the All Blacks, & it’s not considered an international test when playing against them.
As for countries playing multiple teams, Great Brittian has been doing that for a long time.
References :
The idea of an NZ Maori team is an anachronism to former times when there was much social racial segregation in NZ and Maori players didn’t have a good chance of making the All Blacks. I suppose there’s some nostalgia there, but really IMO it’s time to put it out to pasture.
EDIT: I’d like to apologise for the outburst of ‘abitaculcha’. Sadly I think she’s missed the point…
References :
Dont you dare tell us to get rid of our roots! Being a Maori does NOT mean that you aren’t a New Zealander! Thats the biggest myth out there! We are both! And forcing us to choose is the biggest bullying tactic out there.
Even IMMIGRANTS are allowed to retain their identity when they come here! And they can still support their ex-country in sports!
We should be preserving our heritage NOT have some idiots come in and say "Oh, I’m sorry, we dont want you. But we will allow you to live here in OUR country if you give up everything that shows that you were here first! After all, we cant have you messing up our plans for utopia!
Please!!! Next you’ll be asking us to wear the star of david…
References :
Why is NZ (an island) allowed to have 2 teams to include a race but South Africa (that has over 20 different races) is only allowed one team that has to include black and white by LAW??? Now I’m not a rugby supporter but that just sound racist to me! The Maori team should be joined with the All Blacks team if the players is of equal strength and play as one Nation and one team, they all live in the same country, be proud of it!
References :
Good on them how far they have come well done SA. This is hipcorisy of the highest level if I was to propose a European New Zealand 15 I would be labled racist by Tama Iti and the likes. I support Sa whole heartedly on this issue.
They are not the Maori All blacks. They are New Zealand Maori.
As for that iddiot who say less then one third of the team are white..
Tony Woodcock
Andrew Hore
Greg Sommerville
Ali Williams
Brad Thorn
Richie Mccaw
Jimmy Cowan
Andy Ellis
Dan Carter
Conrad Smith
Leon Mcdonald
Thats just of the top of my head but by my maths thats more than 1/3. Maybe he should think rather than tagging.
References :
It’s "NZ Maori" in name ONLY. Dig deeper than the surface, you’ll probably find a "mixed race team." There is no "them and us" it’s Kiwi’s enjoying the game of rugby as a spectator, fan or wannabe. South Africa is a race-based rugby team - it’s there POLICY. It does not matter how good or bad the player is, you are selected (percentage) based on whether you are Black & White. Talent does help in your favour. It’s all about a numbers game, that is in effect, a race-based selected rugby team.
References :
At the moment pakeha make up less than a third of the current all blacksso please go ahead and make a pakeha national side. See how many games the mighty ABs win without any brown influence. Why does mainstream get scared when they hear of a Maori team, Maori Party? dam people complain that John Campbell starts and finishes his programme with a "Kia ora" and "Ka kite". Shall we burn down our marae and build conference centres? Shall we learn how to cook english pudding and give up hangi? Shall we learn Shakespeare English and stop teaching Te Reo? When will NZ be happy to let Maori be Maori in the only place in the world where we are entitled to be? What is NZ’s culture without Maoritanga? Dont hate! Embrace Maori culture for it is the beggining of this countries history.
References :
2000 years of being Tangata Whenua, get over it.
C’mon, people, you are being way too serious (and *way* too political) about this. NZ Maori is a mechanism to allow some more of the lads a chance to play very high-quality, representative rugby, thereby upgrading their experience, keeping them in the eye of the selectors, and generally improving competetive rugby overall in NZ. And high-quality rugby it is: they beat B&I Lions during the last tour, and regularly win the Churchill Cup in North America against the "A" sides from ENG, IRE, SCO and the national teams for Canada and USA. They would be a very good hit-out for the Boks, and provide high-quality, entertaining rugby for the RSA fans.
It also honors a long tradition of contribution of the Maori people to rugby in NZ; call it a cultural thing. But don’t get too hung up on the racial aspect - the qualifications are pretty loose: if I remember correctly, Christian Cullen - now there’s a old, traditional Maori name - lined up with them once or twice.
If you can round up a Kiwi with no Maori background, he’s still got proportionally more high-level rugby union available to him (ABs, Junior ABs, Super-14, and ANZ Cup provincial) than any other population on Earth. That’s not a racial situation that needs protecting in order to redress historical mistreatment or to calm our politically-correct nerves.
I’d like to see NZ Maori (now that they have lost NZRFU funding) operate a bit like the Barbarians - become a barn-storming, all-star team that everyone wants to play against. Maybe they modify the Barbaraian tradition (of one uncapped player), and select one non-Maori.
And then let’s all go out and and have some fun playing rugby.
Mark L.
References :
This is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. The SARFU told Springbok management to select more blacks and to make sure it happened it installed a mouthy black coach. S.A. rugby is into tokenism and NZ Maori rugby is into racism; no difference.
References :
What gets up my craw is the fact that one "racially selected" team refuses to play another "racially selected" team……….should the AB’s refuse to play the Springboks because they have a "racial" quota in their team composition?? In fact whats the difference (in selection) between 1981 and today for the Boks?
References :
South Africa making a stand on a race issue???? Don’t make me laugh!! It’s all just for show. The NZ Maori is a way to keep maori tradition alive and a source of pride in NZ for all New Zealanders - that can’t be wrong and if it is judged wrong by that bunch then they haven’t made much headway with their racial issues, have they?
References :
I agree that a NZ Maori team is selected on Racist grounds as were SA teams of the past . Why should other countries not refuse to play them ??
References :
This is just absolute hypocrisy and stinks of racism; coming from a nation that practiced aparthied as a policy for so long. What the hell does colour mean???? Our Maoris are NZ citizens nothing less nothing more. Get a life South African Rugby Union!!!!!!
References :
NZ Maori is selected on Ethnic grounds not Racist grounds, the difference is 1 being your heritage the other being anti. Tony Brown, Paul Tito have both represented the Maori and they are as white as a ghost, so I would say a Maori’s team is racist I would say it is limited to who can play. I think the Pakeha have had long enough now to realise that Maori don’t just lay down and die and accept your terms, and least I not remind you that we are a country of many racists but you are still a guest in my country. 1 thing that will never change is the fact that Aotearoa was and will always be the birthright of all Maori. To be born a Kiwi is pride and honour but to be part of the Land, Rivers, mountains and seas is Tino Rangatiratanga!!!Kaua e mohio enei kupu nga tauiwi!!!
He aha te iwi tuatahi o Aotearoa
Nga Iwi Maori. Toi tu te toi tu te kupu, toi tu te mana, toi tu te reo, toi tu te tikanga o tatou Tupuna!!!
References :
Why do we have a Maori rugby team? Why not an all white rugby team, all Pacific rugby team, all Asain rugby team from NZ?
References :
The first team to tour off-shore from NZ was called the NEW ZEALAND Natives people. They were effectively the first NZ Maori side captained by Joe Wallbrick. They werent sanctioned by the nzru but as a predominantly Maori team went to the UK nonetheless and played over 100 games in a year long tour. People - this was before the ALL BLACKS. To consider changing this tradition because SA find it marginally offensive is a complete crock of shit! That is truly the pot calling the kettle black. To liken it as a form of aparthied is also a crock of shit. The reason we have the Maori team is a celebration of our differences and in fact a sign of our equality and to some degree in-difference to race that we seek in this nation of ours. To find it offensive? Well you are probably a foreigner with no understanding of our history/whakapapa or some pc driven dribbler who played soccer. Get over yourselves!!!
References :
I believe that SA is pushing the racial aspect too far! It seems apartheid is alive and well in SA. As ‘n ex-pat South African, I really abhor any racial discrimination and to me not allowing the Maori team to play against the Boks smacked of unadultered racism!
References :
Well at long last!!Two racially selected teams meet up.All the Anti Tour Ptotesters will be swooning in their bowls of flour/milk!Of course the UN will rubbing the white palms of their black hands in glee.Pathetic!!If two all white only selected teams met all hell would break loose!! The sooner this racists Maori team is put out to pasture the better!!
References :
Scrap all race based sport…out it goes.
References :
It would be such an opportunity to see the Moari team in action on African soil. They would have the same support as the AB`s. It would be great if they played against Namibia too.
References :
Well lets get rid of the all blacks because they dont represent Maori do they…well they dont…far easier to get rid of the Maori All Blacks…hello..this is typicial thinking been pressured into a selective process by a nation S.A that are saying hmmm thats not good all of a sudden wind change…laughable really…..
ok lets instead unite….unite the All blacks an the Maori All blacks an call them the All Natives…after all it was the very first team from New Zealand 3 october 1888-9 Surrey ….Then of course let change the Maori league team at the last world rugby League cup to The ALL natives…so on an so on
you cant have it both ways….New Zealand is a dutch name, lets change that too after all we are not Dutch instead of a National Party well call it the National Native party….after all that would be politically correct wouldnt it…….were else for goodness sake can Maori play rugby other than in there own country…..if thats racsit…so be it…we are the orginal people of the land……SA bulls**t doesnt belong here..an all know that…..New Zealand leads the way in passive resistance an a peaceful understanding between both cultures that reside at home….theres no need to change anything….get real
References :
Well lets see….
Sounds just like NZ when SA had the Apartheid, only now NZ has theApartheid. maori: Separate voting forms, saved spaces and funding for Uni, Special taxing. Whole hospital floors for only maori. maori only schools and certain laws are just some of the percs for being born a colour.
How can you blame SA for saying no to a race selected team when NZ is making the same mistakes SA did 17+ years ago.
Maori are not Indigenous, they just got in there boats 200ish years befor Europeans and landed in NZ only to eat the Moriori the Indigenous people.
NZ will never be united as long as there is such obvious separatism between this country.
Oh yeah bring on the maori flag *sigh
References :
http://www.teara.govt.nz/NewZealanders/MaoriNewZealanders/Moriori/en
If people cannot distinguish between "selection along racial lines" meaning discrimination in the form of denying players selection because of racist policies, and "selection along racial lines" meaning a race retaining the right to have their own team that represents pride in their own ethnicity and being admired and supported by the vast majority of their countrymen for doing so, they frankly have a rather diminished intelligence.
I can only say this decision makes SA rugby administration look a bit idiotic. I simply cannot understand what it is that is so challenging about the concept of a Maori team. Is it that there might suddenly be a rash of people forming Caucasian teams? Maybe a Black Power v White Supremicist showdown? Come on, we’re talking about a long tradition, not some plot to oppress or be isolated from other races. These players have normal playing careers in multi-ethnic teams. I seriously, seriously wonder wonder what paranoic crap goes on in some brains.
EDIT:
A point being missed a bit is that no one really seems to be able to identify anyone relevant to this whole argument who was opposed to the game. The NZRFU was stunned at the decision, because all indications were that everyone were enthusiastic about the idea.
The simple fact is, it was recognised that a resolution that obviously had an original intention of clearly stating zero tolerance for racial selection such as had existed under apartheid was worded in such a way that SARFU could be contradicting its own laws by allowing the game to proceed.
Now everyone who doesn’t have any vested interest is jumping on the bandwagon dragging up the whole race issue. It is ultimately SA business as to whether that game can proceed, it is the business of New Zealand to determine the role of the Maori rugby team within its own scheme of things, and it is solely the right of Maori to determine what their own culture signifies to them.
Check out early accounts of the excitement and interest that the first "Native" team created in England. If that is no longer the case fine, but don’t drag the "racist" tag into it because true racism by definition is the assertion of power by one race over another. Maori has never had that power and their team is by their choice. In fact it is only thinking blurred by institutionalised racism that thinks that their set of rules should apply to another race. If you don’t want to watch certain games of rugby involving the Maori team, or belong to a country that doesn’t want to, fine, but you have zero rights to tell Maori how they should define their own culture.
References :
NZ Maori team is created by choice, not by force of law, policy or racial hatred. SARU must see the NZ Maori Rugby team not as a team based on negative racial selection, but as an affirmation of a group within NZ society, just like they found it necessary to affirm the rights of their own non-white players by stipulating how many should be selected for each game.
References :
Well done Africa. We criticised them. They play by the rules we set up.
Brilliant. It is time to stop this Maori is special rubbish in its tracks.
Criticism only allowed one way?
They seem to think they are the only ones with a "Kulture"
(Not mispelt)
References :
Where would the Maori team Play? Where in the treaty does it say that Maori are not allowed to have a rugby team?
The south africans have got a cheek to talk about racism. This seems to be a tactic to divert attention from real racism (apatite). Let the Maori play. When the all blacks used to win consistently there was all ways Maoris versus all blacks prior to selection.
Even countries at war play sport. Keep the politics out. Maori are already being hammered enough.
References :
Ban and cut the NZ maori Rugby Team.
South Africa used to say no Maoris no Tour now no whites no tour
who are the maori going to play the Abbos in Australia the Blacks in South Africa
there are more maoris in the all blacks what makes a maori and if we let them play we are silly they want rights to the haka. do they represent us no way send them off by canoe on a one way ticket
References :
The South Africans have a point as well as the moral high ground on this issue. They’re opinion is unclouded by racism or hurt pride.
References :
I take Yr 10 (Form 4) Te Reo Maori.
But should I be allowed to take Maori? I do not have Maori blood, so I shouldn’t be allowed.
I know, lets prevent Maori students from taking English!!! Thats a good idea!! Actually, no its not.
If the government decided to prevent non-maori from taking Te Reo Maori at school and prevented Maori taking English there would be outrage among both Maori and non maori.
This is exactly the same as if Maori weren’t allowed to play rugby. It is total B U L L S H I T.
Us New Zealanders should be proud of our Maori peoples, whether we’re maori or not.Yes they get their own hospital floor. SO WHAT??? They’res gotta be at least 7 or 8 other floors for non-maori. That sounds fair to me!
And apparently people complain because every news reader in New Zealand says "Kia Ora" or "Ka Kite" before they talk. So thats 2 maori words compared to at least 5 thousand english words. That sounds fair to me!!!
Anyway, back to the subject.
SA wanna play NZ Maori in rugby. GOOD!! That means that SA want a warm up game that will challenge them. Better than playing Russia or Spain or something. If I remember rightly, the All Blacks played Fiji in warm up before the 1005 lions series. We won 92-0. No offence to Fiji, cause theyve improved heaps since then (just look at their performance in the 07 World Cup) but thats not a warm up.
Why would NZ’ers want to scrap the Maori team. Some players are PROUD to put on the black and white jersey. Carlos Spencer played his last game in NZ for the Maori.
Sounds fair to me!!!
References :
I reakon it is supid how the South Africans are deining the nz maori team making history and beating them, its all right it only having only maori in the team hey maybe we should make a white rugby team. I just reakon they should go there and play
References :
Well its pretty understandable South Africa’s reasoning on the issue it should not come as to much of a surprise really considering there recent past. I guess they are trying to integrate there society at all levels and good for them.
As for people making comments that NZ should scrap The New Zealand Maori Team what for? It works leave it alone- If the too teams cant play each other based on ideology they both should just move on to the next teams they can play.
And no I don’t think Its that ironic the Springboks are Inclusive the New Zealand Maori team are exclusive. That’s quite a big difference in "racial" selection criteria.
References :
Common sense
Fairplay by the Saffa’s. Teams should not be based on race as is the Maori team. Don’t get me wrong the Saffa’s have no clue when it comes to racial harmony but imagine if in NZ we created an all whites rugby team. I’m a keen rugby fan from NZ and have loved watching the Maori team play over the years, but I think it’s time the country played as one. Let me guess, your thinking i’m a racist?
References :
"That included working around a political stand to not allow the Boks to play against racially-selected teams."
I’m South African and find it extremely ironic that SA Rugby is even considering taking a "political stand" against racially selected teams, when quota systems are alive and well within our own team and country. Regardless of quota systems in our Sport teams, we also have political policies such as Black Economic Empowerment and Affirmative Action which makes it extremely difficult for a white person to get a job in the public sector.
Perhaps SA Rugby should use their influence to get rid of all the racial preference within the country before they start pointing fingers at other country’s minority groups.
References :
Common sense people. The Moari are not a people who used race as a means of political power and social opportunity, rather the team seemed a way to integrate to the western culture over taking their land. I remember reading about an incident when Dannie Craven (spell?) wrote outraged to the NZRFU sometime in the 50s that he was annoyed that the local whites had been cheering for the Moari
To lump them in with Aparthied is just nuts.
References :
The NZ Maori side in this day and age should be the NZ Barbarians and every one should have the opportunity to play. Why should young white, black, brown or yellow players not get the same opportunity. If some Maori people want their own rugby side then let them have it. I have no issue whatsoever with people wanting to maintain their culture whether it be Pacific Island, Middle Eastern or European however it should not be given the national financial support it has for so long. Having an ethnic based "national’ team is an outdated racist based concept that smacks of racial hypocrisy and is typical of what is wrong in NZ. It is also one of the reasons 1 million NZ’ers live outside the country where they don’t have to put up with all the NZ PC crap that is rammed down your throats. There is no doubt South Africa had/has a lot of racial problems but South Africa’s recent attitude to a race based sporting team reflects what most of the world also thinks and it’s about time that NZ realized that. I am a very proud New Zealander and embrace the fact that we have a proud NZ heritage and history which includes Maori, English, Dutch, Chinese etc. The Maori culture is a very proud one and helps make NZ distinct but I get very annoyed with comments from some idiots about it being ‘their’ country. I have no Maori blood however I am a 4th generation NZ’er. I seem to remember in my NZ Secondary School history classes that the Mori ori were the indigenous people of NZ. Has that changed now too?
References :
Are you kidding me ? NZ Maori Team ?
Since when sport is based on race ?
I thought South Africa used to be a racist country that separated whites and non whites.
NZ has only one team, the All Blacks, that is a mixed race team and that’s all.
I am surprised that other countries haven’t manifested against NZ yet.
I am sure NZ would be the first country to scream if Australia had their "Aboriginal team" or South Africa had the "Negro Team".
Just ridiculous.
References :
NZ Maori team has been around for 100years. No other country has ever complained about playing them, if anything they have often been used similar to the Barbarians in the Northern Hemisphere. The difference between us and SA is we pick the All Blacks and Junior All Blacks on skill and form not on skin Color. NZ Maori is not a international team, and from my memory there was a sell out crowd, and no one complaining about selection when they beat the Lions. Also any poly player can go and play for the country they are from, however I am in favour of maybe creating a NZ pakeha team to target the decrease in pakeha taking up rugby. Our rugby is SO strong due to it’s traditions, why change those, they are what add to the pride of our rugby nation.
And really the team isn’t being funded no more the the NZRFU so hey why not let them carry on if they can find there own funding.
Also the Maori team in both league and rugby has helped the Aborigines get their own team in Australia, because they see it’s benefits.
References :
Why shouldn’t the Maori team play? What a load of bull**** people! The maori team have a right to play a sport and play it on behalf ethnicity and of course there country hence the word NZ MAORI RUGBY TEAM! Why should race be a factor in a sport mumbo jumbo bull****! Maori are the native of NZ just like the aboriginies of australia and indians of america!
Obviously the Bok coach chose the Maori team because of there talent not of there race! The Maori team will be a brilliant warm up match for the Boks! In 2004 and 2006 they won the churchill cup and they replaced the All Blacks Junior team and won the 2008 Pacific Nation Cup - They play at the level of All Blacks 2nd team but if you placed them in the World Cup they could beat a few of the top 10 countries in the IRB - Is that the reason for all the negativity of having a Maori team?
References :
Get a life you losers who think maori should be wiped out of everything you pathetic piece of trash!
Everyone is talking about drop the maori team we are all one! yet when Sarah Ulmer, Mahe Drysdale, Hamish Carter enter the olympic village we all do the haka and as observers back here in NZ we all feel very proud. In england every waitangi day the ex-pat’s front up to parliament steps and do the haka, when we are overseas travelling we do the haka…how much of our culture do you want? and people say get rid of the Maori team? c’mon people wake up! if anything it will be interesting to see if the NZRFU stop the All Blacks from Touring SA or the Tri-Nations comp…we are a country built on principals and values…but i guarantee you the AB’s will drop and do the tours to SA and the tri-nations etc….because it is all about money and not mana to them!
References :
An all white rugby team???? hell, we wouldnt win a game hahaha
References :
Comments will always be like "We should only have one national team", They shouldn’t be treated differently", We were here first" etc we can go on for ages.
I think that the main problem with people is that they live in a box. I think it shows how intelligent and diverse New Zealand as a country is to accept a Ethnic Team for sports. You could say we are above the rest of the world in this case because the majority of New Zealand do accept the Maori Team. Most of us are probably half casts any way, so what difference does it really make. You can’t say that Australia would accept to have an Aboriginal Team, or America have an American Indian Team, I don’t think they will. And this is because they are close minded and don’t like to see ethnic groups stand in what they believe in. So be proud New Zealand that for a country we are leaders in racial and ethical relations.
The maori team is about strength, pride and togetherness, not to be the best in the world, or to take over the All Blacks. Please people it is just a team whom are proud to say what culture they are and what they are apart of.
To not be able to play in South Africa will be sad, considering most of the South Africans I know would love to see them play the Maori.
References :
What I love about NZ is our past, our traditions, our love of fair play and dislike for the big dog, our no.8 wire and our can do attitude…………………..the NZ Moari team is part of our proud history and tradition.
Don’t be fooled by the SARU…….there’s a hidden agenda behind there closed doors.
References :
The NZ Maori Team is undoubtedly a racially picked team. Nobody without Maori blood can play in it so it is racist. People mention that the team is traditional and as such should be ok but there are a lot of other traditional things that we would not want around in this day and age.. Maori team NO definitely NO
References :
No sites referenced, Just commonsense.
I think this is not a race issue but an exclusion issue. Yes there is tradition and historic value to the side but when the side was formed acceptance of people from different religion or gender or colour was not abundant in our world. A lot of history in all of our pasts has involved immigration be it by Plane, Sailing ship or Waka. The original Indigenous people of this country have all gone.Killed by Taiaha or Gun and globalisation. Any one born here is indigenous to this land. I can do all things Maori, Chinese or Welsh But to be excluded because i don’t have a drop of the right blood type DOES NOT BODE WELL WITH ME. After all the English let there culture be played on sports fields all over the world. And if the SA rugby board don’t see it as legal through Exclusion or racism. They could be right. NZ has lots of culture lets not exclude any one from any of it. Play hard but play fare.
References :
Live and let live I say! There is far to much interference in peoples right to choose. If the Maori want a Team.. "Great" .. Other nations can choose to play them or not. For me there will only ever be 1 NZ AB team and that is the national side selected from the best players in New Zealand, BUT, I am immensely proud of our Maori heritage and culture and think it adds pride, individuality, power and colour to New Zealand as a whole. Who is anyone (individual or government) to say who can or can not create a team to play sport with others. "Everyone should have the right to choose" and that includes Pakeha.
References :
Its Hilarious, There’s a lot of uninformed opinion in here so here’s some schooling for you Armchair critics!
Did anyone know that all Sth African teams have a "Race" selection quota policy. You have to have a certain amount of Black players in any team! Regardless of merit. What a crock a crap - Sth African rugby board is a pack of hypocrites. There is no "Moral" point or credibility within the SA rugby board when they have a stupid policy like that one. They need to clean up there backyard first. Almost there entire board is run by corrupt, provincial biased officials who are elected on by there mates. (Im pretty sure that even this board has a "Race Quota"), The few good ones are unfortunately vastly outnumbered by the idiot cronies, Some of whom have never played the game either - "People in glass houses"!!!
On top of all this has anyone actually bothered to ask the players opinions yet? As an ex rep player myself (albeit modest), I know for fact that the vast majority of them have absoloutely no problem with it at all because it is afterall & put relatively simply, Another shot at having more rep games if you can get them. I’d throw it out there that alot of them scan there family trees hoping to find some Maori blood so they can have a crack at selection because it is also a huge surge of pride to be selected to be a part of such a team.
It is an Honour to be selected to rep your people and most players of predominant euro descent have no hang up with it at all. Sure there might even be a little envy but thats about it!
I hazard to guess that most of the opinion on this subject is made by people who have never played the game at any representative level and have no idea what they’re talking about having never experienced any such pride in representing there community, province, Island, Country or People..
Get a clue any of you ignorant armchair critics especially when other countries are falling over themselves to play the Maori, They’re obviously a lot less ignorant than most of you.
References :
To all of you New Zealanders that are saying one Nation cut the maori team, You all obviously have no idea about Rugby in New Zealand its almost comical to hear some of your comments. " one Nation then we mite win the world cup" you idiot!! The Nz Maori side has absolutely no Affect on Who Plays for the All Blacks team!! The NZ Maori side is a excellent way for New Zealand to get another team Playing against good opposition giving young talent an oppurtunity they mite not have gottn otherwise, It is the chance for NZ to have three teams Playing international competition which inly Benefits NZ rugby as A whole Now if we asked to have a All Black team a NZ A team and a NZ B team i think we would be Made to stick with two teams, which wud be a major setback for Nz Rugby. The Nz Maori team is selected After the All Blacks And the New Zealand A side so have no impact on our performance at the top level of international rugby other than giving the oppurtunity for 30 or so other players to experience international rugby so why the hell wud Any Kiwi want to get rid of the Maori team Knowing it will not be Replaced by another Nz side??? Its Ridiculous and id say their only reason is bcoz they are Racist.
References :
July 18th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
maori team is a selected on race and should be scraped.New Zealand should have only one national team which all should suport then we might evan win another world cup.i support one team,our team,time to stop this us and them shit in NZ.
References :