Haka - The Maori war dance
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Posted by Jim Down in Civilization section |
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"Haka" is a Maori war dance. The words are chanted loudly in a menacing way accompanied by arm actions and foot stamping. A haka was traditionally performed before charging into battle.
From earliest times, the haka has inspired and energised generations of Maori in both peace and war. The haka was part of the Maori warrior's conditioning for war and battle. There are many types of haka however some were specifically intended for battle. Today the haka is an aspect of the Maori culture of New Zealand that has become very much a national expression of New Zealand identity. This has been reinforced by the All Blacks performing Ka Mate, Ka Mate through to New Zealand soldiers performing haka in Bosnia and East Timor.
The common interpretation for the haka is war dance, but is also used generically to describe all forms of Maori dance and performance. Like many other Maori words there are levels of meanings wrapped up within the words themselves. The word haka is made up two parts: ha-ka. Ha which means “Breath” and Ka, which means “To ignite, to energise”. The haka is simply a way to ignite the breath, energise the body and inspire the spirit.
The haka is an energised form of movement that can improve neuromuscular efficiency. The strong use of the diaphragm, the strong isometric contractions and the vocalisation of sound can create tremendous energy buildup. The movements can performed fast or slow depending on the intention of the performer. When performed with high intensity, the haka becomes an anaerobic activity which soon puts the body into oxygen debt. Hence the need for excellent physical conditioning when performed repetitively. When performed slowly, some haka movements are very similar to Iron Shirt chi kung movements. The haka was seen by the Maori as a complete form of physical exercise and warrior conditioning.
The Maori fighter has always been a formidable fighter in combat. He has been known as a resourceful warrior in both his own oral history and in the written reports of the Europeans who encountered him in the last 240 years.
This warrior prowess can be attributed to the influence of Tu, the Maori God of War. His harsh teachings and disciplines shaped the mind and body of the Maori warrior from birth for war and battle. The Maori word Tu has over 12 meanings however root meanings refer to growth, an upright spine and combat.
Tu the Maori God of War had many war names. These longer names describe the aggressive, warlike nature needed for victory in war and battle.
Tu of the ugly, distorted face
Tu of the scathing eyes
Tu of the fiery face
Tu of the quivering blade
Tu of the flared nostrils
Tu the devourer of warriors
Tu the spiller of blood
Tu the maker of chiefs
From these names of Tu, we learn the qualities essential to a warrior if he is to succeed in war and battle.
? aggression
? killer instinct
? skill at arms
? strategy
? leadership
? survival skills
The Maori also used other Maori gods, other than Tu, to teach the arts of weaponry, tactics and peace-making. Like all thinking people, the Maori understood the cycle of war and peace and the need for balance. There was a time for war (Tu), there was a time for peace (Rongo).
During the New Zealand Wars, the Maori proved a versatile, formidable adversary that fought with vigour and ingenuity to combat the technological and numerical superiority of the British Forces.
The use of special fortifications, guerrilla style tactics and technological innovation frustrated the British Forces and created a begrudging respect for the Maori. Maori soldiers later served overseas in the NZ Armed Forces beginning with the Boer War. During World Wars One and Two, the Maori Pioneer Battalion and 28 Maori Battalion were given the name Te Hokowhitu-a-Tu -the traditional name for a Maori war party. Traditionally the size of the Hokowhitu a Tu group numbered 140 warriors which equated roughly to a rifle company within a NZ infantry battalion.
Maori soldiers have served the New Zealand Armed Forces in the following wars:
? Boer War
? World War 1
? World War 2
? Korea
? Malaya
? Borneo
? Vietnam
? UN peacekeeping missions.
Today Maori soldiers make up a large component of the New Zealand Army and have filled all top positions including the Chief of General Staff (the late Major General Brian Poananga, Major General Jerry Mateparae).
In 1994, the New Zealand Army adopted the name Ngati Tumatauenga (The Tribe of War) to give recognition to the Maori contribution to the New Zealand Army. The use of haka and taiaha are now regularly performed as part of New Zealand Army tradition and custom.
Here is a Maori soldier armed with taiaha, performing a wero challenge in East Timor. The Maori soldier has flank protection from a sentry armed with a steyr rifle, showing the adaptation of an ancient Maori warrior ceremony into a modern New Zealand peacekeeping environment.
The Maori Haka song
KA MATE! KA MATE! KA ORA! KA ORA! KA MATE! KA MATE! KA ORA! KA ORA! TENEI TE TANGATA PUHURUHURU NANA I TIKI MAI WHAKAWHITI TE RA HAUPANE! HAUPANE! HAUPANE! HAUPANE! WHITI TE RA!
--
Translation
Ka mate Ka mate
It is death It is death
--
Ka ora Ka ora
It is life It is life
--
Ka mate Ka mate
It is death It is death
--
Ka ora Ka ora
It is life It is life
--
Tenei Te Tangata Puhuruhuru
This is the hairy man
--
Nana i tiki mai whakawhiti te ra
Who caused the sun to shine again for me
--
Upane Upane
Up the ladder Up the ladder
--
Upane Kaupane
Up to the top
--
Whiti te ra
The sun shines!
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