I was intrigued when I saw this and assume it was a set up between the player, Katelyn Vaha’akol, who is probably Samoan or Tongan, or even Pakeha by her looks, with a smattering of Maori and the TV Camera Person or Photographer.

From Matua Kahurangi.

Here is a link to his full substack piece.

https://matuakahurangi.com/p/sick-of-the-haka-over-the-welcome

Which concludes with this very pertinent comment:

`There is something I’ve been noticing more and more, and it’s starting to grate. One of the most cringe things I see these days is when Māori performers paint fake mokos on their faces for cultural shows or events…’