“I get to come home to my whenua, my whānau and my people, and give back to my own communities through rugby league as a proud Māori professional rugby league athlete.
“In these times we face, I'm grateful for this opportunity to come home. Thank you, One New Zealand Warriors. Mō te apōpō te tino tāke.
“It has been a tough gig being a single mama chasing her dreams and pursuing a career as an NRLW player across the ditch away from her home, whānau and support. My boy and me are coming home.
"Knowing the impact that our presence is going to have on our pathways in Aotearoa to grow and strengthen our game for our kōtiro coming through is what excites and drives me for what's ahead.
"As Luke Whaanga sang: ‘Hoki mai ki ūkaipō’ … we’re coming home. Can't wait our Warriors whānau.”
-Harata Butler, on returning to the Warriors in 2025
“In these times we face, I'm grateful for this opportunity to come home. Thank you, One New Zealand Warriors. Mō te apōpō te tino tāke.
“It has been a tough gig being a single mama chasing her dreams and pursuing a career as an NRLW player across the ditch away from her home, whānau and support. My boy and me are coming home.
"Knowing the impact that our presence is going to have on our pathways in Aotearoa to grow and strengthen our game for our kōtiro coming through is what excites and drives me for what's ahead.
"As Luke Whaanga sang: ‘Hoki mai ki ūkaipō’ … we’re coming home. Can't wait our Warriors whānau.”
-Harata Butler, on returning to the Warriors in 2025
