A fine was imposed on the Wallaroos during the recent Women’s Rugby World Cup match where the Aussie girls dared to cross the 10 metre line toward the New Zealand girls whilst they were performing the Haka. What a load of rot!
What were they meant to do, stand rigidly at attention and not move? If they had backed away and perhaps cowered, would this have been acceptable?
OK, I’m no historian and will be the first to admit that I don’t have a deep understanding with regard to the history of the Haka, although I have it on good authority that it is a ‘challenge’ issued to the opponents of Maori warriors before a battle.
It is actually termed a dance (war dance) although I suspect that this is in name only and has little or no bearing to what we would generally consider a dance. Certainly it hasn’t been on the list at any of the B&S I’ve attended!
Now, when I see women doing the Haka and schoolboys doing the Haka, I think we are heading beyond the realms of acceptable into the area of ridiculous and as a result, its use should be restricted or at the very least, governed.
That’s not to say women can’t do a Haka, although my understanding is it’s more ceremonial for them rather than a challenge. Therefore, I question its use by female sporting teams.
The IRB have taken a stand on the issue. Stand and respect or suffer the consequences. Well, probably shouldn’t expect much else from that mob but perhaps the NZ government should look at somehow regulating its use.
I also know there are several variations of the Haka. Recently, there has been the controversial variant which ends with a display of the throat being cut. Well, I would say very effective against an opponent with whom you are about to do battle, but highly inappropriate in a rugby setting.
And isn’t this a Maori challenge? Seems to me every Tom, Dick and Richie are jumping on the Maori bandwagon.
I have a tape at home which from memory is a history of Rugby. I remember seeing a very early clip (certainly the shorts were near the knees) of the Haka and laughing very hard as one of the All Black players attempted to get into the rhythm of the event with about as much style and panache as Rocky has with referees!
Before I witness the Bay of Plenty under 8’s doing it on their end of season tour ‘Down Under’ against the Humpty Doo under 8’s from Darwin, let’s restrict its use (in rugby at any rate) to the All Blacks home games only.
Then it may again be something to look forward to.
Jackson
Guest
Well said, Genl!
genl
Guest
well at lest the haka has made diferent culture that reside in NZ embrace it as a national icon...maori have not had lets say the rub of the green from european settlers since first arriving on these fair shores many manys yeares ago...land confiscation..dictatorship...racislism andd many other issues that concern maori culture and tradition...if the haka can close the gap between both cultures in NZ then i'm all for it...wether it be on the sporting fields of the world or where ever..to me it means everything...say what you like about the haka..it.s the only time you will get to see european and maori stand together and do the haka because once the game finishes it back to same old same old issues of maori fighting for what is rightfully maori...cofiscated land by the crown...aussie need to readdress their own aboriginal cultural issues and become closer to their own indeginous race..they may even come up with their own form of aboriginal tradtional haka or would that be to embarrassing for all australia or the rest of the world to see...clean up yuor own backyards before you make comment on other cultures ..i agree that there are to many haka by us kiwis..but like i said..if it can unite a nation of different cultures ..than we are making ground towards unity between cultures...
ThelmaWrites
Guest
If the practice of having "Seminoles" as mascots is objectionable, it would have been discontinued. The first time I watched the FSU Seminoles was back in the 1980's, and the practice continues. I met an American Indian who went to Washington State U, when I was on study tour in Spokane, and I'm sure many have gone for tertiary studies all over the United States.
Cattledog
Roar Guru
An organisation, filled with indecisive underachievers who run away at the slightest provocation and contain so many levels of inefficiency that the simplest tasks remain a burden, have accused Australia of having ‘entrenched racism’. Well cut off their funding (which in the main is wasted by their inefficiency) and tell them to bugger off. If they were accountable they would never survive. However, as the UN has nothing to do with this post, I don’t give a damn as it would be just more verbal diarrhoea from an organisation with an abundance of it!
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Why don't you just watch the haka, take your beating, and come on here and complain about it?
Jackson
Guest
Mate, it's not a dance. if we had some kind of traditions like that, we'd be screaming to let them be performed. The Pacific Islands do war-dances as well... Ever heard of Argentina? They're in South America, and their team beat us in Buenos Aires, recently... If we had a tradition of a Corroborree before test matches, well that'd be great. But we don't, so inventing one now would seem a bit ridiculous, unless, I suppose we had a couple of Aboriginal players in the team who pushed for one... Maybe we should've signed a treaty with Aboriginal people in the 80s... by now we might be somewhere along the road to the level of mutual respect that is the situation in NZ... I'm afraid that's why a few of us Aussies just DON'T GET the importance/relevance/significance of the haka
Lorry
Guest
Yeah, bugger off ANZAC day! You twit.
GoldenBull
Roar Rookie
I forgot just how important South Americans are to rugby.. 'they might know nothing about rugby, but they sure know the mighty ABs and the Haka.' So your saying its a good thing that some South Americans know nothing about rugby except some dance 1 team in black jersey's do before a game... Sounds like the relevance the Haka to rugby union has, is the same to these South Americans to the other non Haka countrys...None! just some guys doing a dance.... If its a specticle you wan, then why doesnt Australia rounded up their opposition on the halfway line and performed a Corroboree..... or if its culure you want why doesnt Mick Dundee wrestle a fake crocodile....?
Jackson
Guest
Bet the "Indians" love that.... One thing we shouldn't be doing is taking our cues from those rednecks in Florida. They've obviously turned native American culture into a complete farce... How many native Americans have been to State uni of florida?... hmmm
Jackson
Guest
I'm tired of all this talk of the haka being 'outdated', 'offensive' etc.... Were you labeling it 'offensive' in the 80s, or is this a sad offshoot of the 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie' jingoism of the last 15 years? Have we all had a collective revival of the cultural superiority complex following the 10 year anniversary of the self-professed 'greatest games ever'?! Isn't it hilarious to see all you armchair critics jumping to support 'our girls' and their 'right' to 'front-up' (read: 'disrespect') the haka. Now, I'm a rugby man, but Union types have never been known for their belief in women's rights hahaha. The Haka is one of the greatest spectacles in modern sport - I teach south americans who've just arrived in Australia: they might know nothing about rugby, but they sure know the mighty ABs and the Haka. Look at all the people you see who wear All Blacks jerseys from or in countries where rugby isn't even played... As a Wallabies supporter I'll happily admit that it is the ABs who drive the game around the world and the haka is an integral part of that. Perhaps it is performed by too many teams these days, but that's for kiwis to decide... And, for those who think it's ridiculous to see whites and polynesians doing the haka alongside maoris well, personally, I think it's symbolic of the great state of race relations in that country. Meanwhile, here in Oz, we're being criticised by the U.N. (again) for our 'entrenched racism'... Leave the Haka alone.
Sylvester
Guest
Brett, I'd suggest that if the haka wasn't important/relevant to the ABs, they wouldn't have performed it in the sheds in Cardiff in 2006.
Sylvester
Guest
Two points Perce: 1. the haka takes roughly a minute. 2. It's before the scheduled kick-off, so the game isn't actually delayed.
Sylvester
Guest
Memo to countries of the world: No-one gives a toss about your culture and tradition, so keep it to yourselves will ya... I'm talking to you Ireland, with your pubs, folk music and river-dancing popping up all around the world... I'm talking to you Italy, with your Latin, Roman numerals and mythology, and your delicious pasta, creeping out from your boot-shaped borders... You too Greece, with your popular system of government and democracy... Don't get me started France...
Sylvester
Guest
Arky, Does the rule dictate the response, or just that the team must stay 10m on their side of halfway? Maybe you should re-read. If the ABs stay on their side, it's reasonable to expect the opposition should.
Sylvester
Guest
No one should have to insist that their cultures are respected. It should be expected and welcomed in a civilised and tolerant world, I believe.
Sylvester
Guest
If you'd prefer, we could sing all five verses of God Defend NZ. I think you'd be begging for the status quo after.
Katipo
Guest
In the amateur days the All Blacks did not perform a haka before every game. From memory it was never/seldom performed in NZ and only performed overseas before test matches and not before mid-week games. This made the haka a special performance: it was a bonus for spectators when it was performed. In my opinion, since professionalism, the haka has become highly choreographed and regimented. It's a very 'pakeha' military-style performance these days lacking the individuality and casual humour, that is an important aspect of polynesian and maori cultural performance. (There is a thesis in unpicking how british and regimented the "New Zealand haka" has become when the all blacks perform it). It's also commercialised (there's an expectation it'll be included with the ticket price) and it's over exposed. It risks becoming trivialised. Let's say the NZRU risk doing for the haka what they have done for Asian Bledisloe Cup tests! I think the haka is a great thing but I'd like to see the All Blacks NOT perform it occasionally, reserve it for special occasions, and just get on with the rugby.
Jerry
Guest
Got any actual evidence?
RedsNut
Guest
Plenty of publicity at the time.
RedsNut
Guest
No arrogance, just puting forward my point of view. As to tolerance for the culture of others - my point has always been that I don't insist that others respect mine as per the haka.