The Dance of the Noble People

Leah Biddle and Jan Parker May 2011

New Zealand Rugby has for many years been famous for performing the tribal Haka routine and it has become a true part of their culture

Performed historically by Maoris going into battle or as a celebration of historical events

Haka is the term used for all Maori dance There are several different styles of Haka –

the All Blacks use a version of the Ka Mate. Ka Mate is a short free-form haka which is performed without weapons and is therefore not a war dance

In 2006 we engaged with several Primary Schools within the Town to celebrate 100 years of international Rugby League.

Local dance tutors visited all of the schools and taught the students the history, meaning and Origins of the Haka.

Pupils were taught a basic set phrase of the Haka for them to rehearse for the upcoming performance.

Schools were then given the skill set to choreograph their own sequences of Haka movements based on their school or area.

Over 100 young people across the Town joined on the pitch at the Centenary International Match to perform their own Haka performance piece to crowds of over 12,000 people.

The young people chose their own costumes representing their school or the town and painted their faces in the traditional Maori style.