Respect for the Haka

[Citroënbender]

I was exposed for the first time today, to an unrehearsed haka at a wake for an acquaintance. It's hard to put into words, how profoundly different this was, to what is almost a "showboating" performance in many sporting and social events with an NZ connection.

To witness someone quivering with energy, as if every fibre in their body is hyper-focused, on point and almost supernaturally driven, to feel the ground shake as feet pound, to observe absolute silence as all commands complete attention - this was beyond remarkable.

Even now, eight hours later, I'm still battered by the emotional "charge" of this experience. It's given some insight into how confronting and terrifying the Māori warriors must have been to colonial arrivals.

[danzvtil]

Well put mate, I felt exactly the same when I saw the kiwi teenagers perform one after the recent shootings for a fellow classmate.

[jaydee]

I know I'm probably in the minority, but I'm a bit over it.
It's creeping into all sorts of events, even here in Oz, more and more.
I find it quite confronting and threatening.
I know, that's what it's supposed to be.
It's a war cry/dance is it not, why do they do it at funerals?
Sorry to all the Kiwis out there.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by jaydee

I know I'm probably in the minority, but I'm a bit over it.
It's creeping into all sorts of events, even here in Oz, more and more.
I find it quite confronting and threatening.
I know, that's what it's supposed to be.
It's a war cry/dance is it not, why do they do it at funerals?
Sorry to all the Kiwis out there.

Haka has many different meanings, but your right it is over used in many sporting and social events these days.
It takes a personal experience like the op’s to reinforce what they’re all about.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PooDog]

Originally Posted by jaydee

I know I'm probably in the minority, but I'm a bit over it.
It's creeping into all sorts of events, even here in Oz, more and more.
I find it quite confronting and threatening.
I know, that's what it's supposed to be.
It's a war cry/dance is it not, why do they do it at funerals?
Sorry to all the Kiwis out there.

Agree its over done and cheapened .....if its done at a funeral it is a mark of respect and honour ......as stated if done right and if its some of your mates jump in and perform it , its something that will emotionally move you

[98TLS]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

I was exposed for the first time today, to an unrehearsed haka at a wake for an acquaintance. It's hard to put into words, how profoundly different this was, to what is almost a "showboating" performance in many sporting and social events with an NZ connection.

To witness someone quivering with energy, as if every fibre in their body is hyper-focused, on point and almost supernaturally driven, to feel the ground shake as feet pound, to observe absolute silence as all commands complete attention - this was beyond remarkable.

Even now, eight hours later, I'm still battered by the emotional "charge" of this experience. It's given some insight into how confronting and terrifying the Māori warriors must have been to colonial arrivals.

To be fair have to say i kind of envy your reaction to it ive lived in NZ all my life and having gone to boarding school at 8 where it was done with monotonous regularity kind of took the edge off,rugby season was the worst and by 10 really was questioning why myself and 14 other skinny little white fellas were doing one before every game of rugby,didnt seem to put the opposition off there game Like most things theres a right time and place but as a constant its lost its mana so to speak.

[Work Horse]

No disrespect to the Haka intended but Tommy is a funny guy.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG7r28D1XM8

[98TLS]

Not there best effort
https://youtu.be/DdI0g3rENcQ

[Ross 1]

Originally Posted by muzman

Agree its over done and cheapened .....if its done at a funeral it is a mark of respect and honour ......as stated if done right and if its some of your mates jump in and perform it , its something that will emotionally move you

It's ones like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI6TRTBZUMM that remind you of the emotion and power in a Haka done at the right time and place. With the rugby they should be limited to Internationals, it almost like it's every game nowadays.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by jaydee

I know I'm probably in the minority, but I'm a bit over it.
It's creeping into all sorts of events, even here in Oz, more and more.
I find it quite confronting and threatening.
I know, that's what it's supposed to be.
It's a war cry/dance is it not, why do they do it at funerals?
Sorry to all the Kiwis out there.

I don’t think you need to apologise, a lot of kiwis also feel the same way.

When I was year twelve, we went on a school history trip to Anzac cove, Western Front, Ypres, Normandy etc.
Teachers wanted us to do the haka at the significant war memorials, Chanuk Bair etc. as if there was nothing more pathetic than 30 white teenagers from the more affluent inner city suburbs of Wellington at a nearly all white school doing a haka.
The only thing that could top that for cringe worthy ness is ****ed white kiwis on their OE in the UK/Europe/Canada doing the haka in a bar or street, all for attention.


I’m not bothered by it, but I’ve never got my head around the haka at war memorials and Anzac Day, its contradictory and it would be akin to dragging a woman through the front doors of a women’s refuge or sufferage centre by her hair.

[mick taylor]

I have always despised how it's promoted all the time, I am sick of it's backward display and just such degenerate to display it, like they do everywhere, it should be kept back in their tribal settings.

It makes me angry that I will walk away and dismiss such as just backward display of stupidity or I will just feel like I want to take them on, when they do it as such always comes across as totally insulting to me.

Anyone who try's to act tough or such in front of me .

[Ross 1]

Originally Posted by mick taylor

I have always despised how it's promoted all the time, I am sick of it's backward display and just such degenerate to display it, like they do everywhere, it should be kept back in their tribal settings.

It makes me angry that I will walk away and dismiss such as just backward display of stupidity or I will just feel like I want to take them on, when they do it as such always comes across as totally insulting to me.

Anyone who try's to act tough or such in front of me .

Of the multitude of moronic posts you have put on this site this has to be the dumbest yet and you did set the bar quite high to start with. Deliberately trolling or are you that much of a moron?
It’s a cultural thing, are you intimidated or insulted by any other cultural displays or just the haka?

[Vesper Martini]

Haka has come a long way since this..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emJyEa4z2Ec

Growing up as a Kiwi and loving rugby, I always look forward to watching it at the start of every All Blacks game. but it doesn't belong everywhere
This is ok with the Tall blacks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2GrYTMOfbg

These are not,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko3kYNKuX8s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9BJbQte-3c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGjs8lD-Q_M

[FTE217]

Some very good posts, I like the ones from you white kiwis, I would feel the same I expect.
I have always liked it but it is overdone in this day and age.
They should treasure it more and for high profile select events.
Not sure about every AB game, friendlies what for but full on International games absolutely.
Question ?
Which other NZ team sports use it ? or is it mostly the AB's ?

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Some very good posts, I like the ones from you white kiwis, I would feel the same I expect.
I have always liked it but it is overdone in this day and age.
They should treasure it more and for high profile select events.
Not sure about every AB game, friendlies what for but full on International games absolutely.
Question ?
Which other NZ team sports use it ? or is it mostly the AB's ?

All blacks and kiwis are the only mainstream/major sports I think that do it before each game as part of their official pre game.

Most others it’s more of a case by case deal.

[five 7]

Originally Posted by Ross 1

It's ones like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI6TRTBZUMM that remind you of the emotion and power in a Haka done at the right time and place. With the rugby they should be limited to Internationals, it almost like it's every game nowadays.

"White boys can't jump" leave it to the dudes that invented it, and save it for a appropriate time, not the opening of a paper bag. That was a moving Haka, and for the right reason. But there was a few in there that looked right out of place.
Cheers..