Please explain why it’s offensive?

If I never see the footage of the Haka ever again it will be too soon.

Embarrasing to the extreme, I don’t know anything of the Moari ways so I don’t know how it is deemed offensive; however if it was offensive why did the "dancers" agree to take part in it? (cough Money cough)

I agree, Tony, complete fucking embarrasment. However, I don't really see the need for all this ’disgust’. It was meant as a bit of fun, get over it.

Good to see our marketing department is doing such a sterling job on the research front. If you want to see what the fuss is about - google "STV Haka advertisement" - and this was less than two weeks ago! Another Everton corporate management masterstroke.

If the Moari are so sensitive about the Haka, why are they quite happy for white New Zealanders , in other words Brits who just happen to be born in New Zealand, to do it? Its nothing to do with them, totally different culture. If you want to feel offended start there.

I totally agree - Being an Evertonian living in NZ this is embarrassing to the extreme.

Firstly - what were they thinking? This has nothing to do with the football club. The Haka is the cultural icon of a nation 12,000 miles away. Secondly, it is insulting to said nation. Thirdly, why bastardise it to sell a bunch of gaudy shirts.

In responses to Steve Edwards’ comment — This is completely different. I don’t believe most Maori are concerned with who are doing the Haka but the reasons for it. I would also challenge you to call a white kiwi a "Brit living in NZ".....

I would implore Kenwright to abandon this - It is just cringeworthy. It cheapens the brand and is not far off Black and White Minstrel territory.

*Holds head in hands*

Yeah, well, the Haka is offensive to me whenever I see a bunch of grown men acting like savages, sticking their tongues out, making rude signs, etc towards whatever nation they’re playing. It’s one step away from turning round and mooning the opposition, so why are they getting all hot and bothered about Everton hijacking it (albeit in a madly futile PR exercise)? Oversensitive little souls, those antipodeans.

It’s extremely embarrassing, specially since the song is shit and the kit is shit! Imagine trying to make a black shirt with pretty pink stripes... scary, lol.

Just had a thought, the opposing fans are gonna have a field day when the boys play away. Bet their songs will be better.

As a Kiwi and a massive Blue (i tavelled from wellington to Wembley this year) this haka is nothing more than just embrassing. Its embarrassing to Everton and its embarrassing to the boys who performed it.

But to suggest that it is offensive shows nothing more than the narrowness and small minded nature of the people making the complaint. Yes, the Haka is important aspect of Maori culture but it has become an international symbol of Aotearoa (NZ) and all concern have to accept that it is now a firm part of popular culture (and nobody can control that!)

This also dosen’t get away from the fact that it is ugly (esp wearing pink!) and cringeworthy. You won’t catch me doing it with my top off in the Crown on Scotty! Please don’t do it again!

People seem to get offended easily nowadays, especially on others’ behalf. But the Haka is almost a sacred ritual and is never performed by NZers unless before battle... or losing in RWC quater finals.

Put it this way, its like Steven Gerrard blowing Z-Cars from his arse while upper cutting a toffee girl. But that’s ok, he’d think she was about to deliver her own punch into his stupid ugly face and he got in there first.

A New Zealander did the Haka at my Brother’s wedding without being asked and was so drunk his trousers fell down whilst he was doing it. Surely that’s offensive? People just take things too seriously these days and you can always find someone to be offended about anything.

I’m sure the Australians doing the Haka would be a lot more offensive than Everton trying to build cultural links down under. Must admit though it did seem an odd thing to do.

Why are the New Zealanders so pissed off? They don't have the sole rights to Hakas. Samoa, Fiji etc they all do them too. And now we can be part of that elite group of Pacific Islanders! Hurrah!

A fine PR fuckup, if this shit kit is supposed to represent a modern take on the original "Black Watch" kit then why not use the Black Watch to celebrate it’s launch as it would tie in to many an appreciative serving trooper in Helmand province???

As an Evertonian and a New Zealander, I’m not offended by it, but it is cringe worthy. Could they not see that when they dreamed up this marketing ploy?

It’s not offensive, it was meerly extremely uncomforatable to watch. Cringe worthy, Corey, is the best way to describe it. All involved, form Everton and those ’performing’ the ’haka’ should take a long hard look at themselves. Let’s move on.

What’s all the fuss about? I've seen Terry Darracott performing the hacker on George Best, Mike Summerbee, Kevin Keegan... in fact anyone in an opposing shirt. That was over 35 years ago. I think the New Zealanders are just getting shirty — it's probably those pink stripes.

Who cares about all this crap? New Zealand is a long long way from Goodison.

Embrassing, utterly embarrassing.

I wish our away kit was yellow with green shorts!!

Gareth Charles is right, calling a white Kiwia Brit living in NZ would be offensive, especially as he’s more likely to be a German living in NZ or a Czwch

A few points from another Kiwi Blue who was embarrassed for both club and country.

Any time the haka is used outside of the "cultural perscription", there’s always someone who will cry foul. We’ve reached what has been referred to in NZ as "peak haka", whereby the use of it is so out of control, that it's more likely to provoke cringe than offence. When it made the evening sports news, it was just one of those odd stories they always tag on the end.

It's another indication of an inept marketing strategy. I couldn't believe how many items I didn't want to buy from Le Coq Sportif line-up in the store ....but then the missus did buy the away shirt, so what do I know?

Michael Bates, the point is they, that is a very very small % of Maori activist / self appointed PC cultural ayotollahs actually think they do (own it that is). They are forever coming out with this sort of PC tripe.

The trouble is that as in the UK, NZ and elsewhere, the powers that be, for what ever reason allow them to, for fear of being labeled with the R-word, or sued or, well you know the usual justifications trotted out.

There was an Australian newspaper cartoon (if the Maoris had had one tenth of the shite put on like the Aboriginals had they would have a case)... in the foreground 2 Aboriginals sat by a fire... in the far distance, an oil rig spouting oil... comment, one to another... ’Looks like they found another sacred site then’

Most times it comes down cold hard cash pay us off and we’ll go away... ka-ching.

To be honest, the silence over here has been deafening, and if the super sensitive over precious mob haven’t got on to it then it’s a total none event from a cultural no-no aspect.... 0.000 on the cultural richter scale, but 9.2 on the cringeworthy scale.

Just who, what no-brain amateur, is in charge of the PR? Just where does the buck actually stop?? Elstone?? or Bill ’don’t ask me I’m only the chairman' Kenwright... The words piss-up and brewery spring to mind.

According to the New Zealand Herald, the only one complaining is the Rep from the Intellectual property rights... aka gimme cash???

Says it all really, a storm in a bank book as to a tea cup.

Personally I thought it was rubbish... should at least have been translated into proper tongue to give it some authenticity

However... this righteous indignation and gnashing of teeth is completely over the top. Haka are performed for various reasons: for amusement, as a hearty welcome to distinguished guests, or to acknowledge great achievements or occasions (thanks to Wiki for that last bit!) ... And if the Everton haka is so ’blasphemous’ what did the Kiwis make of this being broadcast in their own country?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PORtZ07FROY

As a New Zealander who lives in the UK and a keen Evertonian I do not find anything offensive about this. It may seem a little silly to those who don’t know Everton, but it’s all good fun.

The people who will find this offensive in New Zealand are the kind of people wo find anything and everything offensive and are over-protective of anything to do with our culture. They tend to be very small minded people who will probably want a handout for being ’culturally offended’.

In fact, the haka is used by most Polynesian cultures and is not unique to Maori at all. We are just famous for it because of the All-Blacks. Most New Zealanders find that in sports we over use the haka. Almost every team representing the country seems to do one.

I don’t think the majority of New Zealand will even care about this. And I bet the Maori guys doing thought it was great fun to do. Basically, like narrow-minded people anywhere, anyone who finds this offensive needs to get a life.

First of all I should say that on seeing the ’Everton Haka’, I posted it to a couple of mates saying..

"Should I be hit by a truck tomorrow and leave this vale of tears, I can at least say ’now I’ve seen fucking EVERYTHING!’"

Fact: Only a huge, huuuuuge knob-head would have come up with an Everton shirt with a pink badge. And only a huge knob-head would have compounded it with that ’Haka’.

A double-whammy that reminds me of a GB Shaw’s (or Swift’s?) quote about men who get a women pregnant, then marry them.

"Like taking a shit in one’s hat.... then placing it on one’s head".

That said, having lived in NZ for three year, I always keep an eye out for Haka-related news. Or — to be honest — Haka related outrage.

When I lived there, I got completely fed up with the whole ’Haka’ thing. You are led to believe it is some sacred thing but it seems to be performed every fifteen bleedin’ minutes.

"Craig’s just going to fry a couple of eggs maaate but first.... HOOOOAAAGGHH!!!" (tongue out)

When I was there the All WHITES (the footy team) played Mexico and before kick off, they performed the Haka. The Mexicans (who had never seen it — don’t watch rugby) fell about laughing. In fact, a couple of them did back-flips etc, trying to join in. Result: (apart from Mexico winning) ’outraged’ Maori.

Every single NZ ’thing’ (event etc), you’re guaranteed three or four blokes sticking their tongue out, popping their eyes and waving sticks about.

My suggestion is reduce the Haka by about 95%. That way is remains something special/sacred etc and something less likely to be given the Everton treatment. This is NOT knocking NZ or The Maori (NZ - probably the best place I’ve lived) but familiarity DOES tend eventually to lead to contempt..

Or maybe it’s a Pakeha thing?

They say that August is the silly season when it comes to News stories!

What a load of BOOLOX!!

Toe-curling way to launch a new Kit, followed by yet more of this PC nonsense we see all too often in the modern world. All these namby pamby ’I’m oh SO offended’ knobheads make me sick. Racism is wrong, but so is this cry-arsing and playing the Racism card against anybody or anything that you don’t like.

Adrian, get a life will you. What an utter load of old politically correct pony.

It was clearly intended as a harmless piece of fun to market an "all-black kit". If anything it was an homage to the fame of the haka (not exclusively an NZ concept, as has been pointed out) and patently meant in a positive vein.

The idea that this harmless piece of link marketing (at best) or slightly cack-handed promotion (at worst) is an "offensive and insensitive act" is bollocks overload.

There are many who actually regard the haka itself as something of an incongruous & unnecessary joke when used before rugby internationals. I tend to think that customs are fine and let them get on with it. But give & take, know what I mean?

As I think you can judge from the replies on here, a total load of bollocks. Do you really have nothing better to do? Dear me.

Don’t you love it when liberals get offended, they offend me all the time with their PC shite.

Political correctness aside - this whole kit launch feels gimmicky and best and bush league fuels my suspicions of a serious case of starved for attention....

In fact I feel the same away about the away kit - somehow I don’t think our peers directly above us in the table would feel the need to shock the futbal fashion world with that kind of asshattery black and salmon... though I suppose Chelsea did try with the safety yellow.

As long as we don’t do it at the start of each game we wear the black kit, I really don’t care. ;-)

It’s being made out to be more than it is by you guys more than anything else, most kiwi’s are laughing at Everton FC — I’ve been ribbed all weekend by people who know I’m a huge EFC fan; time to move on.

Let’s just wait until some Kiwis do a Morris Dance and then we can let the UK PC Brigade loose on them.

Eric — It dosn’t work like that. Political correctness only kicks in with liberals when it's an ethnic minority that maybe offended. They are very good at operating a policy of dual standards.

Does it not have anything to do with a certain shirt sponsor... the French would do anything to get at the Kiwis!

Right just a quick one, what about doing it before every game when we play in this strip, with Tim Cahill leading it! I always find the best treatment you can give these bleading heart liberals is more of the same.

On a side note, I probably need to have my head checked because I absolutely love this strip and I wonder whether it may have the ’Nev Southall’ effect.... you know, where the opposition complain that they can't see our players because of the colour, just a thought!

Great to see that it has created so much comment, the first time anybody has ever called me politically correct.

Alan ,on reflection offensive was probably the wrong word to use. Probably due to the fact I was seething when I saw it. The cringe factor though I totally agree with.
And as regards to having nothing better to do, you obviously read it and responded !!!

All I can say is C’mon u Blue boys !!!