Haka

Haka is a traditional Maori war dance that has been popularized by the New Zealand All-Blacks rugby team.  As shown in the YouTube video below, the team would perform this dance to intimidate their opponents.  There is much chanting, slapping, stamping of feet and fierce facial expressions to indicate that they are ready for war.

We were taught how to do the Haka when we visited a Maori family in Maketu in the Bay of Plenty.  Here we were welcomed by Uncle Boy's family and explained about the Maori tradition and ate a traditional Maori meal.  One of the entrees is very similar to how Hawaiians prepare their meat in a luau - burying the animal in the ground and cooking it with a slow fire for a long time.  After the meal we were welcomed with traditional Maori dances and ceremony.  The ladies were taught how to do the Poi dance.  I have videos of us doing the Haka and Poi dances but I had trouble uploading them to this blog.  After all the activities, we all slept in the Marae, which is the Maori's ceremonial hall and is used for sleeping as well.  All the guys had a lot of fun learning how to do the Haka.  We all thought this was one of the best experiences of the trip.

Maori Welcoming Ceremony

Welcoming Ceremony by the Women

Guys wore grass skirts to do the Haka

Girls do the Poi Dance