The Haka

The Haka

The haka is a common term for the Maori dance. There are many types of haka, which vary between occasions. It can be as celebrating sucsess, welcoming guests onto marae, or as a pre-battle challenge.

The different types of Haka include:

• Whakatu Waewae- This type of Haka invloves the Maori Warriors standing and stamping their feet. No weapons are used in this dance. This type of  Haka was espicially performed by the Tuhoe people who lived on the eastern end of the North Island in NZ.
• Tutu Ngarahu- This Haka involved a side to side jumping movement and was a precusor to battle. the Haka involved weapons.
• Ngeri- The goal of this Haka was to motivate or get warriors in the mood to fight; to "summon up the blood". This particular dance was very expressive an dhad no specific moves . The warriors often would express their emotions and feelings when doing this Haka.
• Manawa wera-This Haka was mainly associated with death and funerals. It involved no weapons. The dancers had freedom of expression in the moves which were not choreographed so there was no defined moves when doing this Haka
• Short free-form haka where the performers interpret as they feel fit.

A good example of the different types of haka is when the All Blacks go out after the anthems and peform a haka. The haka that they do can often vary, and the different types of haka that they have include the ka mate, ka mate, which is very popular, as well as Kapa o panga.