Haka - More than just a performance
We don’t get to pick and choose when we like haka.
Haka is one of the most powerful expressions of who we are in Aotearoa.
It’s intense, emotional, and full of meaning. But here’s the thing - haka isn’t just one thing. It’s not just what you see before a rugby game, and it’s not just about making people feel proud or inspired. Haka is so much more than that.
As Tā Timoti Kāretu explains in his book Haka, it’s a way for Māori to express themselves. And haka can be about anything - grief, anger, politics, love, happiness, whakapapa, and everything in between.
Haka changes depending on why it’s being performed. For example:
At a tangihanga (funeral), haka expresses aroha and grief. It’s raw and heavy.
At a wedding or prize-giving, haka can be uplifting. It’s filled with pride and mana, a way to honour someone special.
Haka can also be used to challenge decisions, take a stand, or demand change. It’s fierce, unapologetic, and bold.
Sometimes haka is political. Remember last year when TJ Perenara performed a haka in support of Te Tiriti o Waitangi? Or when Hana Rāwhiti Maipi haka in Parliament went viral? Both were powerful statements, but not everyone was comfortable with them. No matter the reason, haka is about expression. It’s a way to let emotions out and tell a story.
The last year has taught me that here in Aotearoa, we have a love hate relationship with haka. We love it when it fits the narrative.
We feel proud when our athletes perform haka - especially at a medal ceremony.
We get chills when we see a whānau haka in celebration at a wedding.
We shed a tear when haka is performed as a casket is carried to its final resting place.
And if the Aussies, Irish or English, or any other rugby team tries to “counter” the All Blacks haka before a game, we get protective. We roll our eyes, sigh, and think, “that’s cute” - but then again, if they ignore or disrespect the haka, we’re get our backs up.
Yet when haka is used for protest or politics, it suddenly makes some people uncomfortable.
I remember watching TJ Perenara lead that haka before the ABs took on Italy last year. It was powerful and purposeful -I thought to myself - that’s exactly the right median to express how he’s feeling. But later I noticed, when the All Blacks shared the video online, the start of the haka - where TJ made his stand - was edited out.
That sent a strong message: haka is to be used for the branding, ticket sales, and social media hits it brings. But that’s all.
I heard people say, “That’s not what haka is for.” But who gets to decide what haka is for? Haka isn’t just a performance. It’s a taonga - a treasure.
Aotearoa benefits from haka every day, using it to attract tourists and promote our sporting teams. And honestly, I think it’s great that we share tikanga Māori with the world.
But here’s the thing - we don’t get to pick and choose when haka is okay. As a country, we can’t love haka when it’s convenient and reject it when it’s challenging. That’s not how it works. Haka stirs something deep within us because it’s real. It’s raw. It’s emotion in motion.
It’s not here to sit neatly in a box or make everyone comfortable. Haka is here to shake us, to move us, and to remind us that emotions - no matter how uncomfortable - deserve to be felt.
So the next time you see a haka, whether it’s on the rugby field, at a wedding, or during a protest, take a moment to think about what it represents.
Don’t just watch & listen. But feel it.
Ngā mihi,
Anton