Kiwis Go Back To Their Roots

The Kiwis have had an in-depth lesson about the importance and history of the haka.

New Zealand Rugby League cultural advisor Bailey Mackey spent a day with the Kiwis squad early in the week as they prepare for the opening match of the Gillette Tri-Nations series against the Kangaroos.

I had a chat to Ruben a couple of months ago about the haka and what it means,? he said.

Basically he was really keen for somebody to come and talk to the boys about how special the haka is.

In 1907 the All Golds ? the New Zealand Rugby League team ?performed the haka.

In 1912 the Kiwi over the fern became the logo for the team.

The haka was there from the beginning and it is intertwined in the Kiwis? history.

The haka, the Kiwi, the fern and the black and white V make that team unique on the world stage.

It?s important that all the boys get a feel for that particularly when two thirds of the team actually live outside New Zealand.?

Mackey ? the head of sport for Maori Television ? said he was very impressed with the team?s attitude.

The Kiwis are an awesome bunch of guys and it?s just great to be able to work with them,? he said.

All the boys were really receptive.

The three major points were the tradition of the haka within the Kiwis, the uniqueness of the Kiwis team and the challenge and what it is ? it is the physical, mental and spiritual final preparation before battle.

The Tri-Nations is on our turf this year.

They talk about controlling territory, well there?s no more fitting way to control territory than to lay down a challenge before the game.?

The former East Coast rugby representative said it was important to emphasise the passion of the haka to the team.

I spoke to Bluey, Ruben and other members of the Kiwis management team and they felt it was important that the team was given a sense of what the haka means to the group,? he said.

I tried to get across the point that the haka isn?t there to be a burden but a solid foundation for them to build on.

It?s pretty important - when you have such a culturally diverse group like the Kiwis - that there?s no sense of apprehension about the haka and that it needs to be embraced.

At the end of the day things like words and actions are actually not as important as the passion and sense of ownership.?

The Gillette Tri-Nations series kicks off this Saturday night at 8pm at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland when the two grand finalists from last year go head-to-head.

The game will be full of fireworks as both teams battle it out for the upper hand in the extremely tough series.