Haka – A Living Tradition –

“The haka has always been a vital part of Maori culture and tradition. Today it has a growing influence on the lives of all New Zealanders. It provides a powerful and dramatic vehicle for welcoming visitors, for challenging opponents, for rejoicing in victories, for protesting injustices, and for celebrating culture and a way of life.

This story of haka begins with its origins in the mists of time and looks at its place in legend and in the early Maori world, and the observations of it by the first European explorers, missionaries and settlers. It discusses the various haka types, the roles of men and women, the origins and importance of the well-known Ka mate! haka, and how this special dance has been used in war, sport and politics.

In a contemporary commercial world the haka has been the focus of much debate and its story reflects the evolving relationship between Maori and non-Maori New Zealanders. Haka has been an instrument of nation building, an expression of New Zealanders’ differences and an icon of our unique identity.”