Maori leaders at odds over flash mob haka

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 8:39a.m.

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A Maori leader says the haka has been "bastardised by sport", backing comments made by Springboks coach Peter de Villiers' that the haka is overused.

On Sunday, De Villiers said the haka is less respected at a powhiri for the visiting Rugby World Cup Springboks by Lake Taupo iwi Ngati Tuwharetoa at Opotaka, the so-called birthplace of 'Ka Mate'.

Peter Love, a trustee of Te Atiawa's Wellington Tenths Trust, agrees, saying the haka has been "hijacked by rugby people", Fairfax NZ reports on Tuesday.

"I'm concerned our (Maori) culture is being abused by the overuse and inappropriateness of the haka when it is performed outside special occasions," Mr Love says.

"The haka in our culture is something which is regarded as special and should not be bastardised by sport.

"Peter de Villiers is dead right when he says it is losing its respect."

Mr Love doesn't agree with haka being performed spontaneously by "flash mob haka groups".

"The haka is a challenge, not something which is performed as an expression of delight.

"Who told those people they could do that? The haka is an orchestrated representation of our culture when it is used in an appropriate place but it is being abused."

But Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell disagrees.

"The young people are using these forums to do the haka exactly right - why not let them do it?"

NZN

Comments [16]

jan..

26/09/2011 9:26:42 a.m.

We love Haka since we were born and Haka was taught everywhere in the pacific countries, we will continue with the Haka forever, our generation were here and gone but the Haka remain alive forever in our country Aotearoa New Zealand.. Warnning do not abused the Haka or the Haka abuse you.. Ka mate' ka mate' ka ora' ka ora is to be respected..

hortense

25/09/2011 3:07:39 p.m.

Watched the warriors beat the storm last night and loved the haka done by the KIWI spectators and the blondes doing the haka were not Maori but KIWI. The haka is now a Maroi/Kiwi tradition in the same manner as standing on one's head when asked to bowl underarm

Mr T

20/09/2011 6:32:06 p.m.

Mr Love, it is time to get up with the times. Who told De-Villiers that Ka-mate came from Tuwharetoa. It comes from the Otaki - Kapiti area of Ngati-Toa. It is good to see our young so proudly display their heritage. Even good to see a mozzie coppa get a slap on the hands for joining in with his culture. We all know that the haka was the laying down of a challenge before we went into battle. The mighty 28th did this in WW2. Im sure our lads in the middle east would continue this if they could. At Kapa-Haka festivals it is a way of displaying the area in NZ they come from. And now overseas it is a way of displaying who they are. Keep up with the times Mr Love. Anyway. Who are you. Who do you represent and which iwi do you speak for.

Pierre Te Angina

20/09/2011 6:08:29 p.m.

wakeup Mr Love, this is our generations time to make a difference for our culture and we aim to do that with respect, so thank you for your remarks but no thank you.

Maniapoto

20/09/2011 3:52:39 p.m.

Kia ora whanau, i have to dis-agree with this peter love guy.. Alot of us don't know who u are.. Why say that this is disrespecting our culture by your own people? If thats the case then it sure is a waste of time tryna hold on to the culture that we have left.. When i grew up years ago i lost all of that why? Simply because we were denied our right to speak our reo at our school and were punished for it! Where were u then?? If u had done something then to fight for our rights to speak it then maybe our younger generation would know the differences between repsect and disrespect. An now we are holding on to watever left we have of our culture knowing that the haka maybe all that most of us have and your telling us we don't have the right!? As maori people??.. It sure as hell gives our people the ability to honor where they come from.. Alot of maori today don't even know a single word of our language right down to the simple words like kia ora! Tena koe, etc.. and don't u think thats wrong?? Yeh alot of people can learn that in school but its not even a first or a second language for most.. As maori i don't need permission from any1 to say i can or can not do the haka anywhere! Design a ta moko for who ever.. Do a maori carving for any1 who wants 1 regardless of who they are or what they look like.. Because its within my own right as maori.. I will hold on to whatever maoritanga i have left in me an pass my knowledge on to whomever wants to learn! An no1 is going to take that away from me. I have a daughter and she is half spaniard, half maori.. And i have taught her mother everything i know and will continue to do so and i don't care what u say.. So kia kaha to all our maori brothers and sisters out there an al over.. He whanau kotahi tatou! Aotearoa!!! ago i lost all of that why? Simply because we were denied our right to speak our reo at our school and were punished for it! Where were u then?? If u had done something then to fight for our rights to speak it then maybe our younger generation would know the differences between repsect and disrespect. An now we are holding on to watever left we have of our culture knowing that the haka maybe all that most of us have and your telling us we don't have the right!? As maori people??.. It sure as hell gives our people the ability to honor where they come from.. Alot of maori today don't even know a single word of our language right down to the simple words like kia ora! Tena koe, etc.. and don't u think thats wrong?? Yeh alot of people can learn that in school but its not even a first or a second language for most.. As maori i don't need permission from any1 to say i can or can not do the haka anywhere! Design a ta moko for who ever.. Do a maori carving for any1 who wants 1 regardless of who they are or what they look like.. Because its within my own right as maori.. I will hold on to whatever maoritanga i have left in me an pass my knowledge on to whomever wants to learn! An no1 is going to take that away from me. I have a daughter and she is half spaniard, half maori.. And i have taught her mother everything i know and will continue to do so and i don't care what u say.. So kia kaha to all our maori brothers and sisters out there an al over.. He whanau kotahi tatou! Aotearoa!!!

Rein Zeilstra

20/09/2011 3:13:08 p.m.

@ wills- The "ka mate" haka was indeed firstly uttered by Te Rauparaha and it was a song of thanksgiving as he climbed "one step, two steps, and saw the sun again"- "upane kupane whiti te ra" (i.e; he escaped being killed ("ka mate- I was as good as dead") by the constabulary who bayoneted the kumara heap). Subsequently the great chief became a christian adherent and forsook his former murderous exploits. So the supposed haka as a defiant challenge was in fact a song of praise for survival.

Kevin

20/09/2011 2:02:51 p.m.

Maori Leaders, now thats a joke, in what way are they leading besides complaining behind closed doors, losing its respect Mr Love, respect is earned and given in which you have none, look around and see the young overtake the old in life and in thinking...will our so called leaders find time to come off the Marae's and stop arguing over money around their board tables and actually model leadership so the young could follow, the only thing is that you have to earn their respect. The Haka has mine!

20/09/2011 1:24:56 p.m.

If only people knew that "ka mate" is about a throbbing vagina

Dennis

20/09/2011 1:00:01 p.m.

As a Kiwi abroad, the haka inspires pride in my homeland & culture. Sport is the modern day war. What'd be more appropriate?

Leon

20/09/2011 11:38:21 a.m.

As a proud young Maori i will perform a Haka wherever and whenever i want. I do not need the blessing of anyone. Who do you think you are to tell me otherwise??