New Zealand rugby war dance?

Question

When the New Zealand rugby team do their war dance thing (don't know the proper name for it) before a match what does it mean? In a bit more detail than just a challenge if you could.

Thanks

Answer 1

Trish O has giving you a very good meaning and a description of the New Zealand Haka, and please do ignore people like nonenzder who doesn’t know Reality from Movies, it’s such a shame.

I admire you for taking the steps to finding out rather than judging it from what it really is.  

Trish O has given a very good answers in very good details and some great examples of how common it’s use it New Zealand.

Just recently I was at a Women’s Basketball Tournament Prize Giving and after the Winning Team had claim their prize, a group of boys that supported them honoured the girl’s achievement by performing the Haka.

  

The girls returned the respect and their gratitude by performing a Haka in returning at the same time.

Hopefully the example gives you some idea in how it now used and as Trish O has said, ‘It’s a truly unique symbol of New Zealand’s identity.’

Answer 2

Please ignore people like nonenzder. This person is ignorant and has not respect.

Meaning of the Haka

To most people, the haka is a war dance. This is understandable as many have seen the haka performed as a pre-battle challenge to their opposition.

But the word "haka" simply means a dance, or a song accompanied by dance. While they are the correct terms to associate with the haka, they do not do justice to the life force, the actions, words, rhythm, themes, meaning, style or history that are the haka.

While there are many variations between the types of war dance the common feature is that they are all performed with weapons.

In pre-European and early contact times, the haka was used as a part of the formal process when two parties came together.

Succinctly put, there was a challenge from the tangata whenua or tribe from that area, followed by a response from the manuhiri or visiting party.

The encounter concluded with a tangata whenua performing a haka peruperu. The visitors would then respond with their own haka. Following speeches by both parties, they each moved together to hongi, the traditional greeting of pressing noses.

The elaborate form of the traditional challenge is not often seen these days. It is largely reserved for special occasions such as visits by senior dignitaries. However, the principles that underpin the traditional rituals are still retained in a modern form.

How the Haka is used today



New Zealanders have grown accustomed to the use of the Haka by sporting teams. They thrill to the spectacle of the All Blacks forming ranks prior to kick off.

The modern All Blacks perform the Haka with passion and pride. They have reclaimed the dignity and mystique attached to this traditional art form and in the process, increased its recognition as an icon of New Zealand.

The Haka has come to symbolise the power of the All Blacks and their status in the world of rugby. The team leaves an impression of invincibility and ruthlessness. That impression is in no small part due to the potency with which the All Blacks perform the haka.

Today, the New Zealand Army also has its own unique haka, opened and ended by female soldiers, acknowledging their special place in the armed forces.

The haka has become a unique form of national expression.

Because there are tens of thousands of New Zealanders living overseas, it is highly likely they will engage in the performing the haka in the foreign locations.

New Zealand trade delegations and other official functions overseas are increasingly requesting haka groups to accompany them. These are just some of the ways haka is being internationalised.

In this global village, the haka is a truly unique symbol of New Zealand identity. For it to endure as an icon, New Zealanders increasingly recognise that the haka must be treated with respect.

For further information on the haka go to

http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/ab...

Answer 3

I'm a new zealander who plays rugby and that first comment is rubbish. the all blacks dont decide which haka to use depending on the bravery of the other team. they only had one haka till recently, and the new one is simply a more modern version which is used as an alternative for no particular reason other than to keep it interesting.

Answer 4

'When you extend your tongue...

you're saying to your enemies...

"i'm gonna eat you.

"Your eyes will roll back.

Your head will be stuck

on the end of my stick."

Feel the ihi... the power.'

(From the movie Whale Rider)

There are actually two hakas...some nations deserve more respect (and so get the take that dance routine) from new zealand - than others it seems..

By doing this..and having two hakas....they actually see themselves as the judges (of the nations their rugby team visits).."bravery"..

I mean seriously who the **** are new zealand  to make judgements on any nations bravery?....

I blame George Lucas tbh,

Answer 5

Why to war they better be friends.

Answer 6

The Te Rauparaha Haka:

(this is the regular one the use, when they sort slap their legs then chest then reach for the sky)

Before the Haka is performed by the team, the Haka leader, normally an All Black of Maori descent, will instigate the Haka and spur on those who are to perform the Haka with the following.



Ringa pakia

Uma tiraha

Turi whatia

Hope whai ake

Waewae takahia kia kino

English Translation:

Slap the hands against the thighs

Puff out the chest

Bend the knees

Let the hip follow

Stamp the feet as hard as you can.

Ka Mate! Ka Mate!

Ka Ora! Ka Ora!

Tenei te ta ngata puhuru huru

Nana nei i tiki mai

Whakawhiti te ra

A upane ka upane!

A upane kaupane whiti te ra!

Hi!!

English Translation:

It is death! It is death!

It is life! It is life!

This is the hairy person

Who caused the sun to shine

Keep abreast! Keep abreast

The rank! Hold fast!

Into the sun that shines!

--------------------------------------...

Kapa o pango haka:

(This is the one with the slitting throat action at the end!)

This haka was first performed by the All Blacks versus South Africa on 27 August 2005 at Carisbrook, Dunedin. The All Blacks won 31 - 27. This haka was written by Ngati Porou's Derek Lardelli. This haka will only be performed before special test matches.

Kapa o pango kia whakawhenua au i ahau!

Let me become one with the land

Hi aue, hi!

Ko Aotearoa e ngunguru nei!

This is our land that rumbles

Au, au, aue ha!

And it's my time! It's my moment!

Ko Kapa o Pango e ngunguru nei!

This defines us as the All Blacks

Au, au, aue ha!

It's my time! It's my moment!

I ahaha!

Ka tu te ihiihi

Our dominance

Ka tu te wanawana

Our supremacy will triumph

Ki runga ki te rangi e tu iho nei,

tu iho nei, hi!

And will be placed on high

Ponga ra!

Silver fern!

Kapa o Pango, aue hi!

All Blacks!

Ponga ra!

Silver fern!

Kapa o Pango, aue hi, ha!

All Blacks!

Answer 7

They are a fantastic team - much better the english and south african team... I have seen them play many times - most recently was the game in Scotland at this world cup.

They are awesome!!! :O)

Answer 8

The haka that New Zealand uses is a traditional Maori war dance.  It's a loong standing tradition and it is effective in intimidating opponents.  More than that though, it gets the team united in the right kind of mindset before the "battle", if you will and mentally prepares them for aggressive and victorious play better than anything I've ever seen in sports.