New Zealand Rugby (NZR) 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. 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.
About the Jersey:
Te Tauihu Matua
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:
Manaia
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): Tu, 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.
Waka taua and 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. To paddle these waka, the warriors needed to be paddling in unison. To be a great team, they need to be of one heartbeat. Everyone put their paddles in the water at the same time and pulls them out at the same time, every stroke.
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. Tētēkura is also likened to a leader. To reference the well-known Māori proverb “mate atu he tētēkura, ara mai he tētēkura". When one leader falls, another rises in their place. For now, the players are the custodians of the kākahu (Māori All Blacks jersey), and all actions in the jersey are reflections of the past, present and future.
Te Ara Poutama
This pattern 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.
about the artist:
Kahurangi Falaoa
The namesake EARL is the generational link connecting Lewi to his father and grandfather, who both sadly took their lives after a long battle with mental illness. All three generations share the same middle name EARL. Shortly after the passing of his father, Lewi left his professional sporting career on his own terms to pursue a new dream and re-define the name 'Earl.
EARLS regenerates the nostalgia of sporting heritage to create a distinct aesthetic that is unapologetically its own. Textures, materials, and silhouettes pay tribute to childhood memories and are embellished with personal touches inspired by Lewi's journey. EARLS celebrates individualism. It asks that you are always ready to take the next step into the future and pay homage to your past.
Learn More About The Jersey