One of the most anoying things in NZ is the tendency to doggedly bring people in high positions down if they made a mistake. They (the media) will just keep at it until the person (whether a coach, politician, ex-all black or any other type of executive) get’s sacked.

Haden is now a marked man and they will milk an apology and an confession that he made it up, has no proof and were wrong and then still keep at it until he gets his walking papers. They will then keep a tag on him and if he ever tries to do anything in the public sphere again the media will remind everyone of his indiscretion; making sure he does not get appointed for whatever role he applies.

Here is the latest in the Haden Saga.

The rugby race row shifted to the ethnicity of rugby ambassadors.

The Maori Party waded into the debate yesterday, calling on Andy Haden to resign over his “darkies” comment and questioning the lack of Maori among those named so far as Rugby World Cup ambassadors.

Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga for instance was never approached – despite his pivotal role in bringing the 2011 World Cup to New Zealand.

Umaga, who is of Samoan descent, travelled to Dublin with former prime minister Helen Clark and former All Blacks great Colin Meads to put New Zealand’s case.

Jonah Lomu is the only player of Pacific Island descent named a rugby ambassador; the others are Haden, Sean Fitzpatrick, John Kirwan, David Kirk and Andrew Mehrtens.

Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully’s office confirmed yesterday that Umaga had not been approached.

It was considered that he was doing “more than enough for the country” with his current commitments, a spokesman for the minister said.

Questioned yesterday about the lack of Maori players on the list of ambassadors, Mr McCully implied that there would be some named down the track. “We are adding ambassadors as we go. If you hang around for a couple of weeks, you will see one or two more faces that you recognise quite well.”

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said the party greeted the decision to keep Haden on with sadness and “almost disgust”. All Blacks coach Graham Henry has also entered the fray, saying last night he was “disgusted” by claims that Pacific Island players were inferior to others.

Henry, in an interview with Campbell Live on TV3 tonight, made it clear where he stands on the whole thorny issue of racial attitudes and Polynesian stereotypes in the sport.

The All Blacks coach said he was disgusted by the comments that were being generated around Haden’s allegations and said he felt they had done New Zealand a “huge disservice”.

Henry, who has made extensive use of Polynesian players as captains of his All Blacks, described the row sparked by Haden’s allegations as narrow-minded and short-sighted and said much of the comment being generated was “absolute rubbish”.

“I think it’s absolute rubbish … If you look at the last long-term captain, that was Tana Umaga and Tana was also an outstanding young man who grew up as an All Black and had huge respect from his peers, and led them from the front.”

Warren Alcock, one of New Zealand’s leading player agents, has dismissed Andy Haden’s allegations that the Crusaders discriminate against Pacific Islanders.

Alcock had never heard of such a policy in 15 years dealing with the franchise.

“I have never, ever, heard the Crusaders, or Canterbury, ever mention race as an issue in relation to selection, recruitment or retention of players. Ever,” said Alcock, a highly influential rugby agent-manager who works for the New Zealand arm of Essentially Group.

“I have represented a significant number of Crusaders over the years and I am sure if there was any hint of anything Andy is talking about having any force, I would have heard something. It is not as though my involvement with the Crusaders is confined to one or two people. I deal with the whole hierarchy.”

Alcock is rated as one of the most powerful men in New Zealand sport, with Richie McCaw and Dan Carter among his clients.

Yesterday Haden admitted he had overstepped the mark by saying the Crusaders had a policy “in the manual and enshrined in their articles” but added: “Yes, [the policy is] set in stone and … that’s wrong but the principle remains and this is an issue for New Zealand rugby.”

However, Alcock, who said he had dealt with “everyone” at the Crusaders, from CEOs and coaches to players, said Haden’s comments should not be taken seriously.

“You expect Andy to say controversial things, I guess. When I read them I just thought, `That’s Andy’. If I was involved with the Crusaders in any form I would be disappointed with the comments.”