I entirely agree


Quote:

While the All Blacks are yet to decide which haka to perform before the Rugby World Cup final on Sunday, an Australian columnist is renewing calls to axe the throat-slitting gesture at the end of Kapa o Pango. The Sydney Morning Herald's Paul Sheehan has described the haka "greatest ritual in world sport", however suggested the team and management may want to consider what the throat-slitting gesture symbolises. "If some of the All Blacks persist in ending this latest version of the haka with a throat-slitting motion, they will be using a very big stage to remind people the Maoris once engaged in unspeakable conduct, which we don't discuss any more," he wrote. "I'll simply allude to this by quoting the journal of Captain James Cook: 'There was not a man aboard Endeavour who, in the event of the ship's breaking up, would not have preferred to drown rather than be left to the mercy of the Maoris'.'' "I expect the All Blacks will dominate Sunday's final but New Zealanders should remember two things: about 96 per cent of the world does not care about rugby; and the violence suggested by throat-slitting gestures has no place in sport or sportsmanship, especially in the national colours." At a team press conference yesterday, players were coy about whether they would perform the traditional Ka Mate or go with the newer Kapa o Pango, on Sunday. "Can't tell you that. It's top secret," Ali Williams said. "We'll decide on the bus - that's when we normally decide, on the bus to the game. "Richie (McCaw) will send a text to the guys and (we'll hear a) 'beep, beep' and it'll tell us what haka we're doing." In response to a few giggles from journalists, Williams said: "I'm deadly serious." Both hakas have been shown three times during the Rugby World Cup. The All Blacks performed the traditional Ka Mate haka for the tournament's opening match against Tonga and again against Japan and then Canada in their pool matches. Kapa o Pango was the choice in their pool match against France, their quarter-final game against Argentina and again on Sunday, in the semifinal with the Wallabies. Williams, who usually stands in the front row during the haka, is known for his passionate performances. Referring to the throat-slitting action at the end of Kapa o Pango, he said: "The little action at the end is the Thunderbolt ... It's like a super-hero from Spider-man." Williams admitted he had not been a fan of the haka earlier in his career. But that changed when a Maori leader visited the team and explained the significance of it. "I know what it means. I know what it does to me - it gets me excited," Williams said. "I didn't use to buy into it but I love it now. I don't want to let it down. I want to pay it the respect it deserves."

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby-world-cup-2011/news/article.cfm?c_id=522&objectid=10760402

Rather JUVENILE - on BOTH sides

I've got no problem with either haka, but what I DO have a problem with is the directive that the opposing team just has to grab their ankles and take it.  They are not allowed to turn their back, advance on them, make kissy faces (a wallaby,can't remmeber who, did try that a few years ago and got his head punched in.  ;D)  
The haka is throwing down a challenge, so preventing the opposing team from rising to that challenge gives the AB's an unfair advantage. (as if they needed it)

I agree. The Kiwis can do whatever they want Haka-wise however they are too precious about copping it back. I heard a former wallaby (Phil Kearns?) say that he used to blow kisses during the haka but was stopped.

Quote:

I've got no problem with either haka, but what I DO have a problem with is the directive that the opposing team just has to grab their ankles and take it.  They are not allowed to turn their back, advance on them, make kissy faces (a wallaby,can't remmeber who, did try that a few years ago and got his head punched in.  )   The haka is throwing down a challenge, so preventing the opposing team from rising to that challenge gives the AB's an unfair advantage. (as if they needed it)

I agree too. I don't see why the Aussies would want to turn their back but they should be allowed to blow kisses etc without copping a hiding for it.

And the All Blacks should definitely keep the throat slitting.

Once they start getting all theatrical just shrug then start talking amongst yourselves, make a cup of tea, read the paper, do a crossword etc

guys  :) from a maori perspective, and knowing what i do about the significance of haka, it is a challenge as well as a welcome, and back in the day, was returned by either friend or foe.

it wasn't, and isn't, neccessarily only an indication of strength and/or a need for dominance.

tonga and samoa, both, return the haka, when playing, not only the all blacks, but other new zealand club teams....it's a mark of shared respect.

the throat slitting action, like the tongue poking and eye rolling, is merely a small part of the whole.

I think that poking the tongue out looks even worse.
It's all designed to intimidate the opposition & it does work.
However it is a bit grotesque & not really acceptable in todays politically correct environment.

But:
- I watch the French news nearly every night & they love
to show bits of the Haka - the commentators get quite excited about it too.
It's all part of the show - as the Romans said
give them bread & circuses.
It's still true today.

Bobby. wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2011 at 2:48pm:

I think that poking the tongue out looks even worse. It's all designed to intimidate the opposition & it does work. However it is a bit grotesque & not really acceptable in todays politically correct environment. But: - I watch the French news nearly every night & they love to show bits of the Haka - the commentators get quite excited about it too. It's all part of the show - as the Romans said give them bread & circuses. It's still true today.

quite true bobby. the haka is replicated around the world, by people who like the percieved theatrics of it, reguardless, to nz'ers, as a whole, it is a challenge. nothing more, nothing less.

footnote: pc society?....argh  :)

I think that in trans-Tasman matches when the Haka finishes the Wallabies should turn around drop their duds and give them a good old fashioned Australian Brown Eye (although I think the tradition may be Celtic?)

That'd get the message across nicely  :)

Uncle wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2011 at 8:39pm:

I think that in trans-Tasman matches when the Haka finishes the Wallabies should turn around drop their duds and give them a good old fashioned Australian Brown Eye (although I think the tradition may be Celtic?) That'd get the message across nicely  :)

The correct and only reply is to do your own Haka back.
The Aussies would have to do a Haka too at the same time.

The Brown Eye is our haka  ;D

With respect Pete, the aussie brown eye as you put it has never scared anyone. On top of that it is not even Australian. It was done by the Scotts many centuries ago. There is nothing scarey about it, it is just disrespectful and show contempt for the enemy. There is nothing sportsmen like about it.

Same can not be said for the form of Haka preformed durring WWII against German and Italian troops in the Desert.

The only correct response to the haka:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyxK-qARNV8&feature=related

LOL very clever Soren.

Actually true Australian response is Cranial impact to the back of the head via boomarang.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIO4_2PFNpM&feature=related
;D

Re teletubbies doing haka

Ye Gads, only one thing more frightening, it's the Wombles doing it.

Deborahmac09 wrote on Oct 23^rd, 2011 at 1:28pm:

Re teletubbies doing haka Ye Gads, only one thing more frightening, it's the Wombles doing it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW8Ju3YgqXI

This was a TV ad in Scotland once:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh94hOlMZ_o

Deborahmac09 wrote on Oct 23^rd, 2011 at 1:28pm:

Re teletubbies doing haka Ye Gads, only one thing more frightening, it's the Wombles doing it.

You're right! Great idea Deborah, I'll pass it on.


http://www.sheffieldmayday.ukf.net/articles/wombles.htm

Quote:

Aah speet on your haka, you feelthy Kiwi peegs So let’s get this straight. New Zealand teams can perform a ritualised tribal war dance before sporting contests, complete with throat-slitting gesture,. But if the opposition has the temerity to encroach upon them, that’s unacceptable. Worse than unacceptable. It’s a protocol breach apparently deserving of a $15,000 fine, which is the amount rugby’s governing body the IRB plans on slugging the French. Prior to Sunday’s Rugby World Cup final, the All Blacks assumed their usual formation for their customary bout of tongue-wagging, eyeball popping and general silliness, culminating in the delightfully family-friendly act of throat-slitting. The French weren’t taking that lying down, and advanced upon the All Blacks in a V formation. Good on them. They neither stole the show nor stopped it. It was just their way of saying “we’re not passive spectators here”, just as they turned out to be anything but passive spectators in the desperately close final, which they probably should have won. Fact is, the All Blacks have performed the haka unchallenged for too long. No one denies it is both a brilliant piece of theatre and a perfectly noble way of honouring the Maori heritage which underpins so much of New Zealand rugby, and indeed so much of New Zealand culture. But that doesn’t mean other teams deserve no right of reply.

http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/aah-speet-on-your-haka-you-feelthy-kiwi-peegs/

I have to agree with Anthony Sharwood here.

Meh, let them have their silly little dance and the occasional win.

Imagine that awkward feeling when the world cup hysteria wears off and you realise you're still a kiwi!