Hurricanes Poua lash out at government in revamped haka

Poua haka during the Super Rugby Aupiki. Photo: Marty Melville The women’s Super Rugby Aupiki team Hurricanes Poua have kicked off their season with a new haka calling out the coalition government. Taking the field on Saturday, the Kaitāraki (leader) called out “karetao o te Kāwana kakiwhero” or “puppets of this redneck government”. Joining the chant, the team acknowledged He Whakaputanga (Declaration of Independence), a contract signed between Ngāpuhi chiefs and the Crown before Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and mana motuhake – Māori sovereignty. The haka referred to Toitu te Tiriti, a political movement that has taken a stand against…

Court of Arbitration for Sport partially upholds Simona Halep appeal

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) acknowledges today’s decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the case of Romanian tennis player Simona Halep. Following a hearing held between 7-9 February 2024 in Lausanne, Switzerland, the CAS panel has partially upheld an appeal from Halep against a disciplinary sanction imposed by an independent tribunal in September 2023, reducing the period of ineligibility from four years to nine months. Today’s decision comes in the form of a summary “operative award”, with the CAS panel’s full written decision to follow at a later date. ITIA Chief Executive Officer, Karen Moorhouse,…