New Zealand sports minister supports Crusaders name change discussions

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New Zealand sports minister supports Crusaders name change discussions

 

FILE PHOTO: Grant Robertson speaks during a media conference in Wellington, New Zealand, May 17, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Barrett

 

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand's sports minister has welcomed discussions about a potential name change for Super Rugby's Canterbury Crusaders in the wake of a mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch that killed 50 people last week.

 

A suspected white supremacist carried out the shooting at the mosques as people gathered for Friday prayers and the outpouring of grief was still resonant on Tuesday as families of victims looked to bury the dead.

 

The Crusaders, Super Rugby's most successful team with nine titles, adopted the name 23 years ago when rugby went professional but in the wake of the mosque attacks questions have been raised over its associations with the medieval religious wars between Christians and Muslims.

 

While the Crusaders initially said the name had no religious connotations and that it reflected the region's "crusading spirit", the team's chief executive Colin Mansbridge said they were open to talking about changing it.

 

Sports Minister Grant Robertson said on Tuesday such discussions were appropriate.

 

"I'm aware of the conversations that they're now having with in particular the Muslim community in Christchurch," he said. "I think that's appropriate, clearly this is a big issue in Canterbury.

 

"The Crusaders is a well established name and brand but I think it is a responsible action to undertake those conversations now."

 

Robertson said he would not voice his own opinion until the team had finished their consultations with the local community and he had spoken to officials.

The team's decision to discuss the issue was also welcomed by the local Christchurch newspaper The Press.

 

"What was acceptable to the general populace in the mid-1990s may not be now, given New Zealand's more diverse demographics," wrote sports journalist Tony Smith on Tuesday. "No one can deny the mosque murders have changed the socio-political landscape forever.

 

"There needs to be a considered debate - not a knee jerk reaction - and the Muslim community's view must be paramount.

 

"Take time to get it right, but the very first step is to respectfully ask our Muslim citizens what they think.

 

"It's their team, too."

 

The shooting continued to have repercussions in rugby circles with the Otago Highlanders confirming they were likely to take a heavy financial loss from the cancellation of their game against the Crusaders last Saturday.

 

Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark said they had expected a crowd of 20,000 and were not insured for the cancellation, but it had still been the right decision to make.

 

"The way Saturday panned out for all of us was something we had never been through before," Clark told the Otago Daily Times on Tuesday.

 

"We had worked out there were a lot of people that had to be consulted - a large number of stakeholders, including the young men who had to go out and play the game.

 

"In the end we came up with what we all agreed with was the right decision."

 

(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-03-19

 

[JoePai]

Oh dear, now for the reactions from the tree hugging sad PC wannabies   ????

[Snow Leopard]

6 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Oh dear, now for the reactions from the tree hugging sad PC wannabies   ????

Correct. Shine the light on me. I am a do-gooder. What nonsense. 

[SammyT]

I'm a kiwi and have been proud of how our country has reacted for the most part, but it's starting to get a little bit knee-jerk now with this, the immigration, and the gun amnesty thing.

 

The Crusaders have been in existence for more than 20 years. They have players of many races playing for them and supporters of all faiths. Sonny Bill Williams, arguably NZ's most famous Muslim used to play for them. Never once has their name been an issue. 

 

The government has also mooted the idea of granting all families who lost a loved one citizenship - I'd prefer they actually slowed down and assessed each person properly, as they would with everyone else. I'm pro-immigration, but we still need our checks and balances. 

 

I don't think people need MSSA guns, but they shouldn't be pressuring Farmer John to be handing in his hunting rifle which he has used without incident for 40 years

[Thailand]

A very sad reaction to an even sadder event!

 

[Chomper Higgot]

26 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Oh dear, now for the reactions from the tree hugging sad PC wannabies   ????

And first out of the blocks was....

[shackleton]

they will be wanting to change the name Christchurch next 

same as the Cook Islands no one wants reminders of their  Colonial past 

people are getting to be to PC these days 

[PJPom]

What an absolute piece of politically correct B S !!!

[Baerboxer]

It's beyond words to express the deep sadness most people feel for the victims and their families, and the revulsion to the one who carried out the attack.

 

But sadly, as is now the norm, the PC liberal brigade immediately seize the opportunity to exploit if for political purposes, encourage knee jerk extreme reactions, and link to anyone or anything they oppose. It almost so obvious that everyone can see it. But still some support them.

[Krataiboy]

Why not go the whole nine grovelling yards and rename themselves The Infidels.

[samran]

I disagree.

 

The best way to fight back against these idiots is to (re)appropriate their symbolism.

 

Having a bunch of Maori and Pacific Islander players (sub human to the 8chan wannabes) flying under the crusaders flag is a pretty good figurative ‘up yours’. 

 

A bit like the Eureaka flag in Australia, it’s a symbol of the rebellion of the miners against British authority. It should be our national flag if we even became a republic,  but instead the knuckle draggers have co-opted it. 

 

 

[Berkshire]

This reminds me of the controversy over the American football team Washington Redskins.  Apparently, some Native Americans were offended....or were they really?  It just takes a few very vocal folks who are ultra sensitive to raise a big stink.  I for one am "PC" when it comes to not offending people with words.  But if the Crusaders, like the Redskins, have been around for so long that the name doesn't conjure up racist images, then let it be.  I mean, it's been 23 years.  Have Muslims in NZ ever been offended by this name?

[samran]

1 minute ago, Berkshire said:

This reminds me of the controversy over the American football team Washington Redskins.  Apparently, some Native Americans were offended....or were they really?  It just takes a few very vocal folks who are ultra sensitive to raise a big stink.  I for one am "PC" when it comes to not offending people with words.  But if the Crusaders, like the Redskins, have been around for so long that the name doesn't conjure up racist images, then let it be.  I mean, it's been 23 years.  Have Muslims in NZ ever been offended by this name?

Doubt it. 

 

It’s dumbarse moves like this which makes the left look infantile and stupid. 

[Bert got kinky]

11 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

This reminds me of the controversy over the American football team Washington Redskins.  Apparently, some Native Americans were offended....or were they really?  It just takes a few very vocal folks who are ultra sensitive to raise a big stink.  I for one am "PC" when it comes to not offending people with words.  But if the Crusaders, like the Redskins, have been around for so long that the name doesn't conjure up racist images, then let it be.  I mean, it's been 23 years.  Have Muslims in NZ ever been offended by this name?

 

Well, as someone who now identifies as a black non-binary lesbian, I find the word 'Redskins' deeply offensive.

There again, I am also offended by most ordinary people and their damn logical thinking. 

[Orton Rd]

Croissants should be renamed then as they were made to commemorate the Muslim defeat at Vienna on Sept 12 1683. The 9/11 attackers wanted to do it on the 12 but went on the 11th. PC insanity of course

[SammyT]

2 hours ago, Berkshire said:

I mean, it's been 23 years. Have Muslims in NZ ever been offended by this name?

Sonny Bill Williams,  who is a Muslim convert athlete in NZ and not afraid of speaking out against things (he covered the collar of his Auckland Blues shirt because it had a bank logo which was against his Muslim principles) played for the crusaders and clearly had no issue. 

 

So in short, no. But it's also not the Muslims who are calling for the name change. It's the knee jerk PC bleeding hearts. It's just unfortunate that the Muslims will get the blame for this name change suggestion, because it hasn't come from them so any criticism to them is undeserved

 

[usviphotography]

4 hours ago, Berkshire said:

This reminds me of the controversy over the American football team Washington Redskins.  Apparently, some Native Americans were offended....or were they really?  It just takes a few very vocal folks who are ultra sensitive to raise a big stink.  I for one am "PC" when it comes to not offending people with words.  But if the Crusaders, like the Redskins, have been around for so long that the name doesn't conjure up racist images, then let it be.  I mean, it's been 23 years.  Have Muslims in NZ ever been offended by this name?

Muslims and Indians aren't the ones pushing for these name changes. It is another ethnic group altogether, and the intent is not to spare the feelings of Muslims or Indians (who believe me could care less) but rather embarrass, humiliate, and emasculate the White Christian population. 

[Sir Dude]

Just the usual over reaction from the morons.

[samran]

9 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

Just the usual over reaction from the morons.

 

27 minutes ago, usviphotography said:

Muslims and Indians aren't the ones pushing for these name changes. It is another ethnic group altogether, and the intent is not to spare the feelings of Muslims or Indians (who believe me could care less) but rather embarrass, humiliate, and emasculate the White Christian population. 

Oh woe is you. The victimhood!

 

50 people are dead, but instead we have allusions to your declining manhood. Hint: I hear viagra helps....

[ratcatcher]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saracens_F.C.

Oh dear, these infidels will have to think about their name next, just in case they offend somebody. .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saracen

Guess New Zealand ought to rethink its own team's name. ALL BLACKS.

I realize it refers to the colour of their kit and not skin, but somebody, somewhere sooner or later is going to complain. Going from the sublime to the ridiculous.

 

 

[Krataiboy]

39 minutes ago, samran said:

 

Oh woe is you. The victimhood!

 

50 people are dead, but instead we have allusions to your declining manhood. Hint: I hear viagra helps....

That's the problem with identity politics. If you can't beat 'em any other way you just have to join 'em.

[samran]

16 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

That's the problem with identity politics. If you can't beat 'em any other way you just have to join 'em.

But shouldn’t a member of the white Christian master race, fighting the good fight against the anti-Christ’s be above that? 

[samran]

28 minutes ago, roobaa01 said:

i sincerely hope mr.peters is going to end this coalition with the socialists soon, what a nonsense to give up christian identity. it should be crusading first violent salafists last.

 

wbr

roobaa01

Mr Peters is very happy being FM and DPM.

[SammyT]

12 hours ago, roobaa01 said:

i sincerely hope mr.peters is going to end this coalition with the socialists soon, what a nonsense to give up christian identity. it should be crusading first violent salafists last.

  

wbr

roobaa01

Agreed. Problem is he's burnt his bridges with the right, and most of his voters, who widely expected he would fall to the right when choosing a coalition. Most NZ First voters are more aligned to the National party than Labour or the Greens. His decision was met with some outrage from those ranks. I'd say this will be NZ First's swansong, because those people won't vote for him again. 

 

At this very moment, he is on his way to Turkey to try and appease the Turkish president, who has made a bunch of threats about westerners in his country. That's right, he's heading to pander to the guy who imprisoned around 800 academics last year for signing an open letter condemning systematic torture being used by the Turkish security forces. I'm embarrassed that our government would even give the Turkish president the time of day, given his human rights record. 

[samran]

10 minutes ago, SammyT said:

Agreed. Problem is he's burnt his bridges with the right, and most of his voters, who widely expected he would fall to the right when choosing a coalition. Most NZ First voters are more aligned to the National party than Labour or the Greens. His decision was met with some outrage from those ranks. I'd say this will be NZ First's swansong, because those people won't vote for him again. 

 

At this very moment, he is on his way to Turkey to try and appease the Turkish president, who has made a bunch of threats about westerners in his country. That's right, he's heading to pander to the guy who imprisoned around 800 academics last year for signing an open letter condemning systematic torture being used by the Turkish security forces. I'm embarrassed that our government would even give the Turkish president the time of day, given his human rights record. 

Call it pandering if you want, but tens of thousands of kiwis and aussies head to Gallipoli every year.

 

I sure did about 20 years ago it should be a place that all of us get to visit. His going there will be mostly about ensuring that they can continue to do that, in safety. 

 

There are bigger interests than a hurt ego. 

[RickBradford]

18 hours ago, Bert got kinky said:

 

Well, as someone who now identifies as a black non-binary lesbian, I find the word 'Redskins' deeply offensive.

No, no, no. 

 

Saying "non-binary" infers there is something normative about being "binary". You must now use the term "gender fluid", even if it does sound more like the product of an erotic dream. And you cannot be gender fluid and lesbian.

 

Why not change to being an eco-sexual? That gives you the chance to date a cactus, or a lemur.

 

The whole nonsense about the Crusaders' name is a classic example of the moronic virtue signalling which has become so popular.

[Bert got kinky]

23 minutes ago, RickBradford said:

No, no, no. 

 

Saying "non-binary" infers there is something normative about being "binary". You must now use the term "gender fluid", even if it does sound more like the product of an erotic dream. And you cannot be gender fluid and lesbian.

 

Why not change to being an eco-sexual? That gives you the chance to date a cactus, or a lemur.

 

The whole nonsense about the Crusaders' name is a classic example of the moronic virtue signalling which has become so popular.

All this talk of lemur fluids has stressed me out.

I need my comfort giraffe.

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and the replies have been removed. 

[norfolkc]

Come on New Zealand get a grip we expect more of you 

[RickBradford]

7 minutes ago, norfolkc said:

Come on New Zealand get a grip we expect more of you 

Really?

 

NZ has been one of the leaders on the slide to imbecile radical PC idiocy -- it's NZ that allowed a record-setting junior weightlifter called Gavin Hubbard to declare himself, in his mid-30s, to be a woman, call himself "Laurel", and go on to win the Oceania, Commonwealth and World weighlifting titles in the, or 90kg+ division.

 

Not just win, of course, but make anyone else's participation pointless. At the 2017 Australian championships, Hubbard lifted 44kg more than the nearest competitor, Samoa's Iuniarra Sipaia, herself a record holder, and well regarded in the sport for her clean snatch and jerk.

 

I would say that NZ and Canada are leading the descent to full PC immersion, with the UK, Australia and US some way behind. Most of the rest of the world has too much sense.