In the rush of the moment Whyte would tell Kirk “this is how we roll sometimes”, and would later explain the whole process as making the family “one of us”, who would be welcome at any time.
Kirk marvelled at how NZ rugby’s “intellectual property” is “all-around the world, now”, part of making the welcome special.
“But they’re never going to have our essence,” he said.
“While we have that, we’re going to be okay. This is where it all starts.”
He later commented how moving he found the occasion, particularly for the opportunity it gave for the family to “connect back home”.
The family was welcomed by mana whenua Numia Tomoana and Kotuku Tomoana, and brought onto the marae by former Māori All Black and Hawke’s Bay Magpies player Brian Morris.
Morris translated for the family, their korero also included recalling their one match against each other in 1982, when Hawke’s Bay beat Kirk’s Otago 38-3 in an NPC match in Napier.
Former Hawke’s Bay Magpies player Brian Morris (left) and New Zealand Rugby board chair David Kirk during the pōwhiri for the Kirk family at Waipatu Marae. The pair played against each other just once, a 38-3 Magpies’ win in Napier in 1982. Photo / Doug Laing.
Morris also captained Tamatea to its only Hawke’s Bay premier rugby championship Maddison Trophy win in the same season.
The pōwhiri also firmed three Hawke’s Bay links to the top tables of NZ rugby, with Kirk and Whyte joined by Caren Rangi, a member of Kirk’s board.
With a background in governance, accountancy and public service, including Cook Islands affairs, Rangi entered the top level of NZ’s most powerful sports organisation when a new board was named 12 months ago.
Whyte, who has headed the revival of Te Matau-a-Maui Hawke’s Bay Māori Rugby over the last four years, became a member of the NZ Māori Rugby Board as chair and representative of Te Tini a Maui, the central region, including Wellington.