Any future rugby world cup ambassadors will be chosen for their contacts, Prime Minister John Key says.His comments follow expectations new ambassadors would be named after Andy Haden got in trouble for his "darkie" comments.Haden, a rugby World
Any future rugby world cup ambassadors will be chosen for their contacts, Prime Minister John Key says.
His comments follow expectations new ambassadors would be named after Andy Haden got in trouble for his "darkie" comments.
Haden, a rugby World Cup 2011 ambassador, caused offence by suggesting last week on Sky TV's Deaker on Sport programme that the Crusaders rugby franchise had race-based selection policies which involved recruiting only three "darkies".
Haden yesterday repeated an offer of apology to anyone who was offended by the comments.
The Government has not stripped him of his ambassadorship and Mr Key yesterday said people made mistakes.
The Maori Party yesterday questioned the lack of Maori ambassadors and Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully said further ambassadors were possible.
Mr Key said he did not know about further ambassadors but if there were more they would chosen for their contacts "more than anything".
"That's really a matter for the Rugby World Cup Minister and he hasn't raised with me the desire to have any more," he told reporters.
"If you take someone like Sean Fitzpatrick, obviously he lives in the United Kingdom, has good contacts there. Jonah Lomu, well known around the world, ambassador for the Japanese World Cup."
Questioned as to why there were no Maori ambassadors Mr Key said the Government was looking for people with a "speciality skill" -- especially good contacts.
"Hopefully, over time, there'll be more if that's what the minister wants, if they can add value."
The current ambassadors are former All Blacks Haden, Sean Fitzpatrick, John Kirwan, David Kirk and Andrew Mehrtens.
