Spain captain apologises for haka video ahead of Women's World Cup
Spain captain Ivana Andres has apologised after a video surfaced showing members of the squad laughing and attempting the traditional haka.
A video was posted on Spain's social media channels last week shortly after their arrival in New Zealand but was swiftly removed after it drew criticism. Members of the team were seen laughing as they leapt into the air, with a translated caption saying “We are already acclimatised”.
The video was condemned and they were accused of being disrespectful towards the Maori culture but on Monday, Spain captain Andres read a statement of apology to members of the local Rangitane O Manawatu iwi tribe at a hour-long powhiri (greeting) ceremony.
“We've only been in Aotearoa New Zealand for a few days and we have so much to learn about your culture,” she said in a translated apology. “Therefore, thank you so much for the kindness to dedicate a few minutes of your wisdom, especially in such (an) important moment as Matariki.
“We'd also like to see Matariki as a way to renovate our excitement, and for us to learn to enjoy, to share and to reach for new goals and to ask for forgiveness for our mistakes, and to learn more each day. We know how important mana is for Maori people, and therefore we'd like to celebrate that by giving you a jersey of our team.
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“This jersey represents our mana, our skin, our blood, our sweat and our tears. This shirt represents everything we have to fight for, our sacrifices, our victories, and we hope that you see the privilege we have of playing this tournament in your land.”
The Real Madrid central defender presented a Spain shirt with the word 'Papaioea', the Maori name for Palmerston North. A speaker for Rangitane O Manawatu, professor Meihana Durie, said he thought the apology was sincere.
He said: “We had seen what had happened last week and as a people, we guard our taonga, the haka, very vigorously, but the amazing thing about our tikanga is it allows for those sorts of things to be corrected and atoned for, and certainly this morning we agreed that they did a wonderful job of bringing forth a very authentic apology for what had happened.
“Their words came from the heart and there was an acknowledgement that they understood the haka is very precious, not only to Maori, but to all of Aotearoa. In terms of what happened today at the powhiri, today was a very good outcome.”
Spain will begin their World Cup campaign on Friday against Costa Rica at the Wellington Regional Stadium. The other teams in Group C are Zambia and Japan.
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