Haka

Haka is a traditional genre of ceremonial dance belonging to the Māori people.

It is a performance art often executed by a group known as kapa haka. In this term, kapa means a group, team, or rank, while haka refers to the dance itself. The performance is characterized by vigorous body movements and the rhythmic stamping of feet. These actions are accompanied by chanted or shouted songs. Performers use all parts of the body to emphasize the specific words of the chant. The body serves as both the instrument and the vessel for delivering a message.

There are many different types of haka used for various social functions. Some forms serve to welcome distinguished guests or to acknowledge great achievements. Other haka are performed for funerals to mourn the deceased or to fare-well loved ones. Haka can also be used to give advice, restore self-respect, or transmit political messages. While many people believe haka are only war dances, Māori scholars note this is an error. There is a specific war haka called peruperu that uses weapons. However, the more common ceremonial form is called haka taparahi, which is performed without weapons. Other variations include the ngeri, which has no set actions, and the haka pōwhiri used for welcoming.

Performing a haka involves intense physical and facial expressions. Dancers use facial contortions to highlight the meaning of the words. This includes showing the whites of the eyes, a practice known as pūkana. Men also perform the action of poking out the tongue, called whetero. The movements are highly physical, involving slapping the hands against the body and heavy foot stamping.

These elements work together to ensure the message is felt by the audience. The focus remains on the words and the deep meaning they carry.

Māori tradition traces the origins of the haka to a creation story involving the sun god, Tama-nui-te-rā. He had two wives, the Summer Maid, Hine-raumati, and the Winter Maid, Hine-takurua. The haka is linked to the arrival of Hine-raumati. On hot, still days, her presence causes a shimmering distortion in the air. This atmospheric phenomenon is personified as the haka of Tāne-rore, the son of the Summer Maid. This connection shows how the dance represents a natural phenomenon of the earth.

History shows that haka has faced both suppression and recognition. In the early 19th century, Christian missionaries tried to eradicate haka. Leaders like Henry Williams sought to replace traditional Māori chants with Christian hymns. However, the standing of the haka improved among Europeans during royal visits. In 1869, a vigorous haka welcomed Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh, to Wellington.

Though the performance was intense, reports noted it was of a very friendly character. The tradition of performing haka in sports began with the New Zealand Native football team in 1888. The All Blacks rugby team has carried on this tradition since 1905.

A very famous example is the "Ka Mate" haka. This is a ceremonial haka performed without weapons. It was composed by Te Rauparaha, a war leader of the Ngāti Toa tribe, between the 1760s and 1849. The dance tells the story of a cunning ruse used to outwit enemies. It is often interpreted as a celebration of the triumph of life over death.

Because it is so globally recognized, there have been legal challenges regarding its ownership. In 2012, a Deed of Settlement finally acknowledged the rights of the Ngāti Toa.

In modern times, haka has spread across many different fields and nations. Kapa haka is a common subject in schools and universities. The Te Matatini festival is a major competition held every two years. The popularity of the All Blacks has inspired other teams, like the Kiwis and Tall Blacks, to perform haka. The dance has even influenced international pop culture, appearing in music videos and films. It has been performed on roller skates and even mixed with hip-hop. Beyond entertainment, haka remains a way to honor people, such as during the 2019 commemorations following the Christchurch mosque shootings.