KEY POINTS:
Here is an earlier selection of Your Views:
AC fan (Valencia)
This has absolutely nothing to do with Berterelli. He would have no say at all with what happens with the waka. Alinghi have no problem with this, and probably have no comment on the subject at all, they are only concerned with sailing. No other team felt the need wasting money on this type of spectacle. Team Humble? Hardly. Stop attracting attention to yourselves, it could come back to bite you.
Mary Lim
There's nothing to stop the spirit of the waka team skimming over the waters at Valencia, as Team NZ takes on Alinghi, even if the waka is not allowed to be there physically. So, let's have the waka remain in Valencia, and have the team fly over there, to be on standby to accompany Dean and his boys into port, when Team NZ wins the fifth race against Alinghi. Surely it will be permitted by then. When the Auld Mug returns to Auckland, Dean and his boys can then sail into Auckland, accompanied by a flotilla of waka. Wow - that would be a grand sight indeed and I'm not going to miss it.
Chris
I'm tired of some Kiwis thinking that they have some right for the haka (or waka as it is now) to be displayed at international events. Stop ramming your culture down other peoples' throats.
Rob
Things like wakas and hakas are sensitive and politicised issues so it is extremely impressive to see that the parties involved appear to have made a sensible and practical decision based on what is best for the yachting team. Well done. The truth is that, while it's great to see a waka out there, we would all much rather see the cup come home.
Jimmy (London)
I'm a proud pakeha and a proud Team NZ supporter. I think the Maori waka and Maori haka are both fantastic and should be allowed and I can't understand why all of New Zealand doesn't embrace something unique to us regardless of our background. It's the people of Valencia who will really miss out not our team but at the end of the day we will have the last laugh when we bring home our cup a few months before we bring another one back from France.
Kiwi (Canada)
Did I really read that the stage was not strong enough to hold the haka? Obviously they can build boats but not stages, and the waka "might damage their boats" - what a crock of pipikaka. The Swiss have come up with a lot of excuses for things over the last hundred years [will not elaborate on that one} surely they could come up with a boat full Swiss watches {mean looking ones} that would compete with the waka. I guess a lot of these other countries don't have any tradition or imagination when it comes to sport. Oh well, that's the way it goes. Let's go black boat and settle it all on the water.
Valencia, Spain
In any international sporting arena, one culture must not be allowed to enforce its cultural traditions over others. No matter what.
Martyn (UK)
Don't send the waka in. With the amount of Kiwi's on Alinghi it could get those guy's just as fired up. Why spur on the opposition, especially if they are fellow Kiwis.
Neil (Vancouver)
These screaming, spitting, intimidating, fat slobs are hardly the sort of image New Zealand needs to be showing off - especially when added to other Kiwis' obnoxious, drunken, irresponsible behaviour in Valencia. Makes an ex-pat cringe. It's not until you leave NZ and note how much more civilized and sporting much of the western world is.
Confused again?
Have the cup organisers banned the waka, or has the Alingi boss banned the waka, and if the latter, does that mean the waka is officially banned or is that just what the headline would have us believe?
Le Fox
I do wish Maori culture would stick to NZ protocol. I do get rather tired of Maori thinking they should be at the forefront of anything worldly, from NZ just because they are Maori. Why didn't they have a NZ surf life boat in the floatila? But, then again the taxpayer wouldn't have given support to that jaunt, as they would have realised that would have been inappropriate, as would a waka, but people keep sticking their hands in their pockets to allow them to do it.
Huia (Gold Coast, Australia)
Ernesto is going to lose the America's Cup and he knows it. Go the Kiwis and go hard. There is plenty of support for you from the ex-pats on this side.
Brian Savin
It will be an ill wind that comes from denying the haka! Let it be performed in NZ waters in the direction of Valencia!
Stanley
The waka and haka will make their presence felt come hell or Swiss Alps.
Phil
Well the Tangata Whenua accompaniment to Team NZ always struck me as a little strange given that there appeared to be no representatives of one of the greatest seafaring cultures in the world on race-boat. Let's face it, though yachting is a pretty white bread occupation in NZ, Maori people generally prefer to use something to get them to the kai moana and back a bit quicker since giving wind power away as soon as they could. On the other hand if a mob from Rotorua want to try and drum up a little business from the tourists good on them, but Berterelli is obviously shitting himself and trying everything he can to wrong foot ETNZ. Little does he know how little most bourgeois sailing types care about Tangata Whenua unless they can make a dollar out of them some how. Perhaps the 'Swiss' entry is struggling to get the spectators on side, which isn't surprising Switzerland doesn't belong to the EU so short of putting Butterworth and Co in Liederhosen he's battling to give his team a coherent identity. And a pragmatist like Dalton is going to see this move for what it is, Alinghi just blinked.
Kiwi in India
Yep - let the waka sail. It's up to the Swiss of course, but if they have nothing to fear then why worry about it? As an overseas kiwi it's always great to see a unique NZ touch on the world stage - whatever the occasion. As for the likes of Ms O'neil, JR, Marcus, Cate, etc - lighten up. It's no big deal if they don't sail, but it doesn't mean the end of NZ civilisation if they do. Last time I was home in NZ I didn't notice an explosion of koru designs on the streets, or new apartments being built in the style of a whare (althought that would be cool) - so I think you're all safely resident in colonial NZ until the end of time. Too much Maori in NZ? Give me a break. Funnily enough I was at a forum last night here in New Delhi given by veteran BBC journalist Mark Tully about how tolerant and pluralist India is in dealing with different cultures. I actually think NZ is streets ahead; on land and on water. Go Team NZ!
Cate (Texas)
The Maori have nada to do with the America's Cup so they should flip off out of it. Where were they in 1995 when the race was being held in San Diego, California? Nada sign of them then. Jeeze they couldn't even send a group of performers up for any ceremony so why now?
Cricket (Wellington)
I'm Pakeha and find people like Susan's views on Maori culture really tiresome. What Susan is saying is tantamount to saying that there are too many Maori people in New Zealand!
Frank Weller
Our team should be allowed to do the haka! But do the real one! Maybe even refuse to race?The haka has always been a great part in these races! We can not allow them to stop us now!
Jo
I think whatever works for ETNZ its all mind games anyway, hopefully kiwis have the upper hand on that one. By the way Susan having 2 national anthems acknowledges the indigenous culture of your country and the Maori version coming first may have something to do with the fact that Maori have been in NZ a good 900 years! Before anyone else - don't you think that in itself is worthy of a little recognition-I'm sure you would prefer it when the emphasis was the other way around, thankfully most of society has seen how unjust that way of thinking was and are attempting to balance it out.
cuppa haka
I reckon it has more to do with Ernesto not wanting to have half of his 'purchased cupkit' realising what they have done by selling themselves out all those years ago! It may very well send them on a lower morale trip as they realise that at this very point.They are no Kiwis! Not that it matters because the money man and his band of pocket driven boat boys are going down!
Kiwi Expat/Asia
Of course the Waka should be allowed! We are a free, multicultural society with a sharp sense of humour! Displays of Maori culture at national representative events are not only appropriate but in most cases expected - moreover it's entertaining! Rugby has the famous Haka, I think a Waka is very suitable for yachting and indeed appropriate. The Swiss could counter by lining up Alp-horns on the pier or proposing whatever they feel appropriately representative of their nation but I guess whatever they choose lacks punch compared to New Zealand - easier to simply squash the idea and save face. I feel it's a poor decision.
Andrew Gee
Given the intimidation and sheer terror engendered into ETNZ supporters, through exposure to feather adorned alpine hats, blown alpine horns and rattled cow-bells, the Alinghi supporters should allow our own feather-adorned, conche blowing paddlers a right of response.
Andrew
What a load of PC nonsense. Who cares if the waka is there or not? It's not a waka race!
Hoani, Waiuku.
Bring on tha waka, (from a tax paying Maori.)
LV
Why should the waka be allowed? Why is this even a news story? Alinghi own the cup at the moment they make the rules. When we win the cup we can have 100 wakas if we want but until then Alinghi call the shots. It's not as if Alinghi are making Team NZ compete against them in a waka. It's one thing to expose others to our culture but it's another to force it down their throats.It's a boat race not a cultural display.
Proud Kiwi (Auckland)
What right does Ernesto Bubarelli have to tell us what we can and can't do? All because he can't handle that we have more support behind our boat than he will ever have. Next he will be telling our supporters they cannot cheer the boat from the wharf cos it might upset his little playmates with their Tonka toys. All he is doing is winding us up more to make us want to win. I think the Waka should go out either before or after the yacht, still make their presence known among the spectator fleet then he cannot do anything. I wonder if he will try and ban the Haka when we win due to it being to scary.
Faye (Auckland)
The waka should be allowed to accompany Team NZ to the starting line. It's acknowledgement of pride, sense of belonging and just purely outstanding support and good sportsmanship from all Kiwis. We are a nation that is proud of all sports achievements. If Alinghi is intimidated by the show of Kiwi togetherness, than they should match it with something that is theirs, but don't destroy the good Kiwi spirit. Go Team NZ!!
Lesley (Manukau)
Yes, the Waka should be allowed to go out to the start with Team NZ. There is nothing like being on the water with a Waka in full flight beside you, as we have been, in a Kayak, it certainly stirs the emotions, including pride.
Bill Fraser
Alinghi bars Team NZ waka. Why? Because Mr Bertarelli is afraid they will paddle their waka faster than they can sail their boat!
Karvee (Brisbane, Australia)
The Waka should be to Team NZ like the Haka is to the ABs! We should be as intimidating as possible to Alinghi, to show who's the boss of the seas!
Kelvin Mudgway
What is wrong with Alinghi are they that scared, I read about Alinghi saying that New Zealanders should get on with it. What is in the past is in the past, but don't they understand that if it was not for the back stabbers that turned to Alinghi that the cup would still be in New Zealand? The America's Cup is more than just a sport its business. Look what it did for New Zealand, if not for Auckland bringing in millions of dollars for ship building and so on.
Good luck Team New Zealand. Bring the cup back.
Myles (Northland)
Dear Susan (O'Neil).
We are not the only country in the world who has more than one language in their national anthem. South Africa has three. It highlights the multiculturalism that they are trying to create. You are showing your true colours when you suggest that we are all sick of Maori culture - it is obviously blatantly not so and many NZers, both non-Maori and Maori enjoy it immensely. The haka that you call bland is now performed (by the ABs) to a far greater level of skill and passion than it was ever done previously and perhaps you would like to note that they have more than one of those as well. I guess some people are not interested in the culture of this land. Perhaps you would like all us Maori to leave. Yes the taxpayer is paying for the waka - just as the taxpayer paid for part of NZL 92. Are you objecting to the use of taxpayer money to pay for a boat or just the Maori boat. Ernesto is behaving like Frank (Bainanimara) who is miffed at getting upstaged so is throwing all his toys out of the pram. They should both grow up and that message could apply to others. I think he is worried that we already pose a threat and thinks that the waka will give us an advantage.
Ross (Wellington)
This is gamesmanship, pure and simple. But kiwis can fight back by adding their names to a list of ETNZ supporters at www.supportwaka.co.nz
JR
I would like to see the waka there but with a multicultural crew representing all New Zealanders. After all, would it be acceptable for a sailing boat with a white only crew to accompany a waka to the start line of a waka race? I think not. To even suggest it would be racist!
Kiwi Majority
Well, what do you expect? It is a professional sport with a world wide broadcast. Who'd want a bunch of Maori's in a canoe, poking their tongues out and advertising threatening behaviour, antagonising the opposition when you heading out for one of the most important races of your life. Let's face it there is a time and a place for everything.
Embarrassed NZer
No, the waka shouldn't be there. It's a joke. Who paid for or asked for it to go? Send that stupid waka home and let Team NZ get on with it! Stop spending my taxpayer money on dumb ideas like this!
Cherry poppa
Go Kiwis, give them a big bunch of fives.
Marcus
What next? No offence to the guys over there but what does a waka have to do with this race apart from the fact they both float. I hope they have their life jackets on.
Richard
Susan, what should matter is what Team NZ want, and I am sure I heard during the previous footage the past few months, that the Waka gave them an little extra support. I get tried of hearing the anti-Maori comments sometimes. As for Ernesto, he shows as much as a lack of sportsmanship as some New Zealander's, like Susan show towards their country.
Kopou
Too damn right we should have the waka there or maybe the pukana (the warrior display of the toung) disturbs Berto. However the Kiwis on his boat should be able to help him through the distrought of it all. Has anyone asked the bro's (kiwis) on his boat how they feel?
Mo (Auckland)
Rubbish! That just shows that they are scared of what Dean Barker has got coming for them. Especially when it is going to be a whitewash. Yes, that's my prediction. Alingi will not win one race. Alinghi need to know that the Waka isn't only for support of Tean NZ, but it is also shows respect to the competition, in a healthy way. What they're doing is simply a sign of a sore looser. Come on Alinghi, chill out!
Erin Dinneen
Let the mind games begin - this sucks. The Maori Waka shows our affinity to the ocean and is a perfect means of ushering our Team New Zealand boat out on to the course. Ernesto sucks! It will backfire on him by firing our boys up even more. Go TNZ.
Snowball
Yes the waka should be allowed to go with TNZ.
Susan O'Neill
Thank god we won't have to put up with a waka accompanying Team NZ, there is far too much emphasis put on the Maori aspect in NZ, we are multi-cultural after all. What on earth does the America's Cup have to do with Maori anyway, wasn't it a Maori that damaged it. There is far too much Maori protocol in this country and most of us are sick of it. Why are we the only country in the world to have two versions of the national anthem and the Maori version always comes first? The haka as well it used to be something of pride, but now it is just ho-hum, yet another haka. Who is paying for the waka anyway? I hope not the poor NZ taxpayer.
Robert (Takapuna)
Why am I not surprised by that decision by Ernesto? Once again he is showing what he really is made up of. All talk and no substance. I recall how when he won the Cup in Auckland, how he mocked the haka on his boat. Remember that? Well why don't we give these old world, old money Pakehas the bum rap and go ahead and have our waka accompany ETNZ despite the veto. We are not scared!