Story: Māori rugby – whutupaoro

1921 team haka (3rd of 4)

1921 team haka

The New Zealand Māori team perform a haka before their game against the South African Springboks in Napier in 1921. The match was marred by controversy on and off the field. Jackie Blake was denied a mark in front of the Springbok posts, from which he could have kicked a goal had it been awarded. Additionally, the Springboks scored a try after (the Māori team believed) a player stepped into touch. Following the game, a telegram by a South African journalist expressed shock at white men cheering on coloured men against a white team.

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How to cite this page:

Malcolm Mulholland, 'Māori rugby – whutupaoro - Rugby union, 1910s to 1930s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/39621/1921-team-haka (accessed 21 April 2024)

Story by Malcolm Mulholland, published 5 Sep 2013, updated 1 Jan 2015