New Zealand Rugby and adidas are proud to announce the release of the newest Māori All Blacks jersey Te Tauihu Matua, a powerful symbol of whakapapa, connection, and identity.
The jersey, designed by Ngāti Tūwharetoa artist Kahurangi Falaoa replaces the previous design by Dave Burke and NZR Kaumatua Luke Crawford.
Kahurangi Falaoa is a contemporary Māori artist, tā moko artist, haka composer, rugby coach, Whakairo student and inspirational educator. With a career dedicated to uplifting others through education and the arts.
The previous jersey was farewelled with the help of Ngati Toa and Te Atiawa tohunga earlier this week, in line with the cycle of player jerseys, which are renewed every two years.
The mauri of the new jersey has been awoken with karakia in Wellington and will be worn for the first time by the Māori All Blacks against the Japan XV on 28th June in Tokyo. Players will share what the jersey means to them at the official Māori All Blacks squad announcement in Auckland on 24th June, and throughout their campaign against the Japan XV and Scotland in Whangārei on 5th July.
Mo te Kākahu | About the Jersey
Kahurangi Falaoa, the artist of this taonga, has aptly named the jersey Te Tauihu Matua. “This is inspired by the figurehead that stands above the Tētēkura and is in reference to a well-known saying by Api Mahuika about standing at the bow of your canoe to feel the spray of the future biting at your face, which speaks to leadership,” said Falaoa. “Matua as a stative however, also means ‘main, primary, chief’.
Together, Te Tauihu Matua becomes The Chiefly Bow. To stand with courage and face the challenges that lay ahead,” he said.
Crafted with deep cultural significance, the jersey incorporates four key design elements:
Two manaia - “Kei a Tū te tapuwae, Kei a Rongo te tapuwae”
A manaia is seen as a kaitiaki, a guardian who can cross between the two realms of the living and the dead. They watch over us.
The two manaia represent the two atua (gods): Tū, god of war and humanity, and Rongo, god of peace. These atua remind us that a player must be balanced. The kōwhaiwhai pattern, Pūhoro, which is seen inside the manaia, represents speed and agility.
The waka taua – “E hara te toa takitahi, ēngari, hē toa takitini!”
Tētēkura – “Ka hinga he tētēkura, ka ora he tētēkura”
Waka taua – This is the front view of a waka taua, a traditional Māori war canoe whose purpose was to transport warriors along the highway of rivers to get closer to their destination of battle.
Tētēkura – The figurehead of the waka. This figure sits just above the water and pierces through the waves of the ocean and currents of the rivers, breaking the water for the waka to follow. The Tētēkura faces the many challenges of rivers and oceans, setting an example for those that follow.
Te Ara Poutama
A design element that is only found on the Player Jersey, the Te Ara Poutama represents the path that Tāne took when he ascended to the heavens to retrieve the baskets of knowledge for mankind to live in te ao mārama, the world of light.
Te Ara Poutama in this sense, represents the players striving for excellence—for their family, Hapū and Iwi. The pattern represents the hard work and sacrifices a player has undertaken to make the team.
Mo te Kaitoi | About the Artist
KAHURANGI FALAOA
Ngāti Tūwharetoa, - Ngāti Raukawa + Ngati Pukeko
Ko Tongariro te maunga
Ko Taupo-nui-a-Tia te moana
Ko Waikato te awa
Ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Ngati Te Maunga te hapu
Ko Ngati Tuwharetoa te iwi
Ko Te Heuheu te tangata
Kahurangi is held in high esteem both in Aotearoa and internationally, he brings the values and beliefs of Māori culture to life across many mediums. Mentored by Sir Derek Lardelli, and the late Matua Luke Crawford.
The 2025 Māori All Blacks jersey is not Kahurangi’s first collaboration with New Zealand Rugby, an active contributor to the Māori Rugby Programme, he has also composed the U20s Haka with the input of players and management of the time, under the guidance of Luke Crawford, weaving together tradition, pride, and innovation.
Te Korero mō te Jersey | The Story of the Jersey