THE ART OF HAKA…..

Haka is a traditional native dance of the Maori, the native people of New Zealand.

"The haka is a composition played by many instruments. Hands, feet, legs, body, voice, tongue, and eyes all play their part in blending together to

convey in their fullness the challenge, welcome, exultation, defiance or contempt of the words.“

"It is disciplined, yet emotional. More than any other aspect of Maori culture, this complex dance is an expression of the passion, vigour and identity of

the race. It is at it's best, truly, a message of the soul expressed by words and posture..“

Alan Armstrong “ Maori Games and Haka” (1964)

The Words of Ka Mate

Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!

I die! I die! I live! I live!

Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!

I die! I die! I live! I live!

Tenei te tangata puhuru huru

This is the hairy man

Nana nei i tiki mai Who fetched the Sun

Whakawhiti te ra And caused it to shine again

A upa ... ne! ka upa ... ne! One upward step! Another upward step!

A upane kaupane whiti te ra!

An upward step, another.. the Sun shines!!

Hi !!!  

Haka involves culture, feelings, emotions and

beliefs that is why is not only a special ritual it is also an

art where

“the whole body should speak”