All Black

New Zealand’s Maori Haka Get Warriors Ready For Battle

Haka is considered the traditional dance form of New Zealand’s Maori.

Usually a group performs this posture dance which contains vigorous movements and stamping of the feet accompanied by shouting.

The All Blacks rugby union team has made a certain type of haka very popular.

However, this might have led to certain misconceptions.

I found out that haka are not exclusively war dances and they aren’t performed only by men. Sometimes they are performed by women, mixed groups, and some even by children.

In these cases, they are performed for amusement, as a hearty welcome to distinguished guests, or to acknowledge great achievements or occasions.

War haka (peruperu) were originally performed by warriors before a battle, proclaiming their strength and prowess in order to intimidate the opposition.

Haka has become an integral part of official welcome ceremonies for distinguished visitors such as foreign dignitaries.

According to reports the first New Zealand rugby team to tour overseas, namely in Australia in 1884, performed “a Maori war cry” or haka before each of its matches and it has been a tradition ever since.

Enjoy the video with the All Blacks and their version of haka: