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Information

Continent: Australasia

Country: New Zealand

The power of the All Blacks

If you’re an avid sportsman, witnessing the All Blacks performing the haka will definitely be on your ‘to-do’ list! The intimidating thigh-slapping, eye-bulging, tongue-poking chant traditionally used is the Te Rauparaha haka and is designed to display the team’s ferocity, agility and fitness.

History has it that this version was composed by the warrior Te Rauparaha in the early nineteenth century while he was hiding from his enemies. Hearing a noise above and seeing the sun was blocked from view he feared he was about to reach his end but on seeing it was in fact his friend he performed the haka on the spot, out of relief!

Over the years, descendants of tribes defeated by Te Rauparaha took umbrage at the use of this haka and consequently a replacement was devised – the Kapa o Pango (Team in Black) haka. Controversy still surrounds the final throat-slitting gesture, which symbolizes the harnessing of vital energy and it remains to be seen whether Kapa o Pango will end up replacing the traditional haka or fade from view.