The Orange

Richard Boock likes to get up people’s nose.

And good on him too.

Too much of the New Zealand sporting public acts like they’re been at the bottom of too many rucks or gone too many rounds with Mike Tyson.  Without head protection.  And without ear muffs.

Over recent weeks, there’s been a couple of issues that are inter-related.

First, the acknowledgement of property rights for “the” haka (Te Rauparaha’s Ka Mate haka).

Second, the possibility that South Africa may not allow the NZ Maori team to tour.

The property rights for the haka is so obvious – particularly given the way in which the NZRFU protects its own rights. As Boock has pointed out, try selling a black t shirt with a silver fern on it and see how long before the NZRFU sends in its legal bovver boys.

A few years back, I seem to recall the AB’s using the Rolling Stones “Paint It Black” as the basis for an advertising campaign. Rights were negotiated with the Stones (from memory it involved beer, tickets and signed jerseys). Point is – you have property rights, you protect them.

That does NOT mean you stop everyone from signing Paint It Black – you simply protect its exploitation. Same with the haka.

The second issue is interesting because those who’ve spent too much time at the bottom of the ruck will say that the NZ Maori team is discriminatory. So is the NZ Women’s team, the NZ University team, and the NZ Under 19’s. Each has different criteria for representation.

As noted by a former race relations conciliator, the NZ Maori team is NOT the NZ team. The team does not claim to be representative of ALL NZ, just Maori. I’d also argue that the Maori would argue it’s normally not representative of all Maori either as the AB selectors (plus the pillaging Northern Clubs) take care of that.

Sadly, as Boock points out, these episodes have brought out the worst of the NZ sporting mindset (if that isn’t an oxymoron).

Funny thing is, if the Maori were to play the Boks next weekend, the same meatheads would be pissed in the cheap seats supporting the Maori.

Now I’m a leaguie – mate.

I watch all the NRL, mate, and even the RLWC.  Someone has to.

Mind you, you know the competition has trouble when the focus is not on the game but the pre-match war dance confrontations.

Here’s my favourite (admittedly, not the actual RLWC but the curtain raiser):

The interesting thing for me is – PC asides – there’s no way OSH would have allowed all those spears on the field in NZ!