Aboriginal rugby star finds Maori roots

Timana Tahu says being in the NZ Maori team is all about honouring his late father, Tom, a Ngapuhi. Photo / Dean Purcell

He wasn't looking for it but Timana Tahu has happened upon a whanau connection with another speedy Kiwi in the New Zealand Maori league team this week.

Tonight, the dual Australian Wallabies and Kangaroo finds himself in the unique position of being able to play for the Maori against England at Mt Smart Stadium.

International league rules also mean that, come February, he will be eligible for Australia's indigenous All Stars team.

Tahu was born and raised across the Tasman. His mother is Aboriginal but his father, Tom, who died in 2003, came from Mangamuka in the Far North - Ngapuhi land.

After a week of immersing himself in things Maori, a team practice session when the new boys wore nothing but undies, and meeting King Tuheitia at Turangawaewae Marae, finding he had whanau in the Maori team was a nice discovery to make.

"I've only just found out I'm related to [Warriors winger] Kevy Locke. He's going to take me up north and show me around, meet all the whanau. That'll be a good experience for me to meet everyone and go visit those places."

Tahu, 29, who grew up in Bourke, which borders the desert in the west of New South Wales, has long been a role model for indigenous Australians. But being in the NZ Maori squad is about honouring his father and learning more about his roots here.

"It's been an awesome experience. Every day's been busy, but always something new and always learning. That was the whole idea of me coming over. I'm just hungry to know my culture because it's something that's in me.

"The easiest part is to go out and play football, the hardest part was learning the haka, but I'm starting to get it down pat now."

Singing waiata has caused a few more problems," Tahu joked.

"I just try and stay in tune with everyone else."

It's been a difficult year for the centre. In June, the NSW player quit his State of Origin camp after league legend Andrew Johns called Queensland centre Greg Inglis a "black ****."

In the resulting firestorm, Tahu was widely lauded for his stance.

However, this month, an Aboriginal teenager accused him of racial abuse, a claim he has said is a case of mistaken identity.

Coach Mark Horo said there were few players better than Tahu for youngsters to look up to and being in New Zealand had afforded the player a bit of breathing space.