Haka in popular culture
The haka is a traditional Māori dance form. The use of haka in popular culture is a growing phenomenon, especially in New Zealand. Traditionally, haka were used only in Māori cultural contexts (see haka), but today haka are used in a wide range of public occasions to impart a sense of the importance of the event.
Sports teams
Sports teams who perform a haka before international matches do so not only as a reflection of the importance of the game that is about to be played but also to motivate themselves and their supporters to greater efforts; indirectly then, as in days of old on the Māori battlefield, they are paying a compliment to the perceived skills of their opponents.
- Rugby union: The most famous modern use is the regular performance by New Zealand's national rugby union team, the All Blacks - see Haka of the All Blacks.
- Other sports: that perform haka before commencing a game include rugby league (the Kiwis), Australian rules football (the Falcons) and basketball (Tall Blacks) teams. The haka is also performed by the football teams at Brigham Young University and University of Hawaii before games, as well as the Euless Trinity (Texas) high school football team, the 2005 Class 5A Division 1 state champions, a team with many players of Tongan descent. In addition to Euless High School, many high school football teams in Hawaii also perform a haka.
The Haka is also performed by Los Borregos Salvajes (Borregios)de Monterrey (México) and other collegue football teams in Mexico (UDLA, Los Aztecas,etc)
Military
- New Zealand Army: The New Zealand Army has a haka composed specifically for them, Tu Taua a Tumatauenga.
Schools
- Schools: Several New Zealand schools perform their own haka.
- Trinity Grammar School, in New South Wales, is the only Australian school known to have their own haka.
Other uses
- Haka in the Guiness Book of Records: In 2005, some 10,000 people broke the Guinness Book of Records for the World's Largest Ever Haka, (most people at one time) in Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia. It was run by Gene Elder and the New Zealand Victoria Business Group (NZVBG). The previous record was 800.