# The Maori haka **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 15, 2024, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286 "2024-11-15T13:14:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/1 "2024-11-15T13:14:36Z")
I don’t know what it is about this primal ritual that fascinates me. It’s ferocious and energetic, and must have scared the shit out of enemies in the past. Recently, [one erupted in the New Zealand parliament](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/15/world/asia/new-zealand-parliament-maori-haka.html) in protest of a proposed bill that would set back indigenous rights. All the speaker of the house could do was say “Oh, don’t do that.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/2 "2024-11-15T14:29:22Z")
I agree with you. I’ve always liked watching Hakas. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/3 "2024-11-15T14:53:53Z")
The NZ national rugby team, the All Blacks’, hakas are legendary. **[All Blacks haka - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=all+blacks+haka)** ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/4 "2024-11-15T15:07:07Z")
Someday, I would like to see a New Zealand team play against a Welsh team. The New Zealanders could perform the haka, the Welsh could sing “Men of Harlech”, like in the film _Zulu_. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/5 "2024-11-15T16:35:00Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The NZ national rugby team, the All Blacks’, hakas are legendary Don’t forget Fiji [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CAXTMrg0-S4/maxresdefault.jpg "HAKA VS CIBI") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAXTMrg0-S4) j ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/6 "2024-11-15T17:20:45Z")
Excellent! ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/7 "2024-11-15T17:43:33Z")
There’s a very well filmed haka at a funeral or memorial for a young man that is heart breakingly powerful. It’s easy to find but I don’t want to cry at work. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/8 "2024-11-15T17:55:56Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Someday, I would like to see a New Zealand team play against a Welsh team. The New Zealanders could perform the haka, the Welsh could sing “Men of Harlech”, like in the film _Zulu_. One better I think,: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WDCh6PsKMyY/maxresdefault.jpg "Anthems (& Haka) - Wales vs New Zealand [EOYT17]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDCh6PsKMyY) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/9 "2024-11-15T19:23:14Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The NZ national rugby team, the All Blacks’, hakas are legendary. **[All Blacks haka - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=all+blacks+haka)** You should have posted the metal haka: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/J0lccL6Qa64/maxresdefault.jpg "HAKA goes METAL [All Blacks Rugby Team] [Ka Mate Remix]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0lccL6Qa64) ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/10 "2024-11-15T20:35:48Z")
The coolest thing about it is that it can be pulled out for lots of special events. Here is one done for Shaun Johnson after his last game in the NRL. In typical Kiwi fashion it included players from both teams. > **[A Haka for a legend](https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2024/08/31/teammates-and-rivals-send-johnson-off-with-a-haka/)** > > A Haka for a legend ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/11 "2024-11-15T21:36:59Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Recently, [one erupted in the New Zealand parliament](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/15/world/asia/new-zealand-parliament-maori-haka.html) in protest of a proposed bill that would set back indigenous rights. The observers were not impressed. Probably because it looked much less intimidating and much more like a scene from one of those musicals where people are aware that they are in a musical. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/12 "2024-11-15T22:05:51Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > The observers were not impressed I assume you mean the other legislators. The gallery up top erupted and joined in. BBC footage: > **[Moment MP leads haka to disrupt New Zealand parliament](https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cg4ln6ddgy9o)** > > Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke led the haka and ripped up a copy of a contentious bill being voted on. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/13 "2024-11-15T22:13:06Z")
They all had their choreograph down pat. I assume that they were all part of a staged event. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/14 "2024-11-15T22:18:20Z")
Hardly, they are all over the place. It is easy to learn the moves and that’s why it often spontaneously breaks out as a celebration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2deYzImsT0 ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/15 "2024-11-15T22:46:46Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > It is easy to learn the moves and that’s why it often spontaneously breaks out as a celebration. But “the Haka” isn’t _a_ dance like The Funky Chicken is a dance, it is a category of dances like [stepping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepping_(African-American)). If everyone starts doing the exact same dance it sure seems like it was preplanned. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/16 "2024-11-15T23:04:41Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > But “the Haka” isn’t _a_ dance like The Funky Chicken is a dance, it is a category of dances like [stepping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepping_(African-American)). If everyone starts doing the exact same dance it sure seems like it was preplanned. …what the hell? This was _Te Rauparaha’s_ haka: I’d suggest to you that probably every single _white kid_ in the country learns it at school. Ngāti Toa were in the gallery and likely the reason Ka Mate was chosen. And it probably was preplanned by Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, in the same way that Rosa Parks refusal to go to the back of the bus was preplanned. But she was joined by MP’s from Labour and the Greens which likely _wasn’t_ preplanned. Because trust me: they didn’t have to choreograph the words and the actions. Almost everyone in Aotearoa can perform Ka Mate. It’s like the pledge of allegiance. The star-spangled banner. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/17 "2024-11-16T00:28:08Z")
Thanks for all that. What I know about Maori traditions would fit in a teacup. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/18 "2024-11-16T01:59:37Z")
So, is the chant composed of intelligible words? If so, what’s a rough translation? ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/19 "2024-11-16T02:13:57Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > So, is the chant composed of intelligible words? …I’m not sure what this means. Its in _Māori_. Of _course_ it’s composed of intelligible words. > [@](#): > > If so, what’s a rough translation? Translation (not a rough one) : > **[Haka Words and Translations - All Blacks Experience](https://www.experienceallblacks.com/insider-information/haka/haka-words-and-translation/)** > > Understand the meaning behind the All Blacks' powerful battle chants with these haka words and translations. Find Kapa O Pango, Ko Uhia Mai and Ka Mate lyrics here. For more context: [https://www.toarangatira.iwi.nz/kamate](https://www.toarangatira.iwi.nz/kamate) [https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350376066/ka-mate-origins-iconic-haka](https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350376066/ka-mate-origins-iconic-haka) ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286/20 "2024-11-16T02:28:52Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Thanks for all that. What I know about Maori traditions would fit in a teacup. …for more context: Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, the MP in the original video, went to [Te Wharekura o Rākaumangamanga](https://www.rakaumanga.school.nz/), a total-immersion school or kura kaupapa, which means that students are “immersed in a Māori language and cultural environment.” She’s the second-youngest sitting MP, (the youngest was elected in 1853 and shouldn’t have been eligible, he lied about his age.) And she defeated the incumbent, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta. She wrote a book at the age of 17. And dresses like a [revolutionary](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/500186/maipi-clarke-becomes-country-s-youngest-mp-with-win-in-hauraki-waikato). In short, she very much didn’t need to “learn the choreography” before she led the haka at parliament. 🙂 She is a complete and total _badass_. And she will be at the forefront of resistance here in NZ as the alt-right start to dominate governments all over the world. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-maori-haka/1010286.md?page=2)