World Cup rugby

Our little town will be hosting the rugby team from the USA for a while during the course of the World Cup and in anticipation thereof came up with the idea of having a very special welcome for them including a 'waka' trip down the Whanganui River. To everyone's horror and dismay, the team spokesperson let the powers that be in Wanganui know that they wouldn't really like to do that.

For the uninitiated, let me just mention that to be offered a trip in a 'waka' (maori canoe) with paddlers in their traditional regalia, faces tatooed and carved artwork paddles is more than just an honour - it is something deemed almost sacred and offered extremely seldom. Now the haka happens much more frequently and is used for lots of different occasions - no doubt the Yanks will get a haka or two with their arrival, but to have turned their noses up at the waka trip was tantamount to committing suicide -  clearly the team in question was unaware of this. Having been quietly informed about the metaphorical slap in the face they have dealt the Maori of this area, the American Rugby Team has recanted their initial reply and have said that they will be 'honoured and delighted' to take the aforementioned waka trip.
Let's just hope that someone informs them up front about how one should behave in a waka - there will be no standing up, half clad, arms aloft and clutching beer while singing The Star Spangled Banner.
On a similar note, the English team has been offered a traditional Maori reception in one of the smaller coastal towns where oysters are the claim to fame of the whole area - the menu was planned to revolve around oysters and other traditional seafood like whitebait fritters. Evidently, the RSVP was returned saying that the team 'would prefer the menu to be more like finger foods and crisps' (for heavens' sake!) Let's just hope above all hope that the locals can muster up some warm beer for them.

The photo above is of the Rugby nations flags which Andre and Martie have put up at the entrance to their Top Ten Holiday Park - we are all taking bets on which ones get stolen first!
Dis al!