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| Christchurch shootings: How Maori haka unify New Zealand in mourning | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| As New Zealand mourns the victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings, traditional Maori haka dances are reverberating around the country. | |
| It's a type of ceremonial dance many might associate with the famous New Zealand All Blacks rugby team. | |
| But what does a haka actually signify, and why have so many been performed across New Zealand this week? | |
| What is a haka? | |
| Haka means "dance" in the language of New Zealand's Maori people. It's a group performance involving synchronised movements, lots of stomping, shouting, and eye-rolling. | Haka means "dance" in the language of New Zealand's Maori people. It's a group performance involving synchronised movements, lots of stomping, shouting, and eye-rolling. |
| In fact, there isn't just one haka - there are hundreds and new ones continue to be composed. Each region and each tribe has its own versions, depending on the occasion and who taught dance to the community. | |
| Matthew Tukaki, executive director of the Maori Council of New Zealand, told the BBC that while it's often thought of as a war dance, "the central theme is actually one of respect". | Matthew Tukaki, executive director of the Maori Council of New Zealand, told the BBC that while it's often thought of as a war dance, "the central theme is actually one of respect". |
| So is it actually a war dance? | So is it actually a war dance? |
| "Traditionally it was a war dance to basically threaten or warn the enemy," explains Mr Tukaki. "But its meaning has changed." | "Traditionally it was a war dance to basically threaten or warn the enemy," explains Mr Tukaki. "But its meaning has changed." |
| You'll have seen the All Blacks doing a haka on going into competition, but you might also remember another haka being performed whenever the British royals pay a visit to New Zealand. | |
| Today, different haka are performed at all kinds of ceremonial occasions - from receiving dignitaries to birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, or the funerals of chiefs and people of high standing. The words used can change with the purpose. | |
| Why are haka performed for the Christchurch victims? | |
| There have been countless spontaneous instances where New Zealanders have performed a haka in recent days. | |
| "I am not all surprised to see this," says Donna Hall, a fellow member of the Maori council. "It's a spiritual response to what has happened and it really is intended to tap the spiritual depth of people." | "I am not all surprised to see this," says Donna Hall, a fellow member of the Maori council. "It's a spiritual response to what has happened and it really is intended to tap the spiritual depth of people." |
| She points out that it's very important for the country to have this "unifying response" right now, at a time when everyone is still shocked by what happened last Friday. | She points out that it's very important for the country to have this "unifying response" right now, at a time when everyone is still shocked by what happened last Friday. |
| Does every Kiwi know how to dance a haka? | |
| Pretty much. Traditionally, the practice had been limited to Maori communities, but it has long spread far beyond that. | |
| "Let's be honest, the All Blacks can take most of the credit for this," says Ms Hall. | "Let's be honest, the All Blacks can take most of the credit for this," says Ms Hall. |
| Today, most children learn different haka in school from early on, regardless of whether they are Maori or not. | |
| What about cultural appropriation? | What about cultural appropriation? |
| Is it ok for non-Maori New Zealanders to perform a haka? "Yes," Mr Tukaki says emphatically. "This is a special time. We are at a special moment in New Zealand history, but also one that will be important for our future." | |
| Cultural appropriation would only be an issue when cultural elements are adopted outside the communities, he says, without any Maori involvement. This is not the case in the current situation. | Cultural appropriation would only be an issue when cultural elements are adopted outside the communities, he says, without any Maori involvement. This is not the case in the current situation. |
| Mr Tukaki believes the many haka videos going viral are a powerful statement in themselves, countering the online hatred that allegedly fed the shooting suspect's thinking. | Mr Tukaki believes the many haka videos going viral are a powerful statement in themselves, countering the online hatred that allegedly fed the shooting suspect's thinking. |
| "Let's overwhelm them with love," he says. "I've seen haka from New Zealand, but also from Chicago, New York, London and Sydney. I have seen boys from a Muslim school in Auckland doing it - and it makes me very proud." | "Let's overwhelm them with love," he says. "I've seen haka from New Zealand, but also from Chicago, New York, London and Sydney. I have seen boys from a Muslim school in Auckland doing it - and it makes me very proud." |
| What happened on Friday? | What happened on Friday? |
| The New Zealand Maori Council had called for a nationwide haka on 22 March, the day that commemorations marked one week since the shooting. | The New Zealand Maori Council had called for a nationwide haka on 22 March, the day that commemorations marked one week since the shooting. |
| In many places across the country, people came out to mark the day with the ceremonial dance. | In many places across the country, people came out to mark the day with the ceremonial dance. |
| A special haka planned to take place at the Al-Noor mosque did not go ahead, however - overtaken by the main commemorations at the site where most of last week's victims died. | A special haka planned to take place at the Al-Noor mosque did not go ahead, however - overtaken by the main commemorations at the site where most of last week's victims died. |
| "While there will be many different haka on Friday, there will be one common theme," Ms Hall explained ahead of the day. | "While there will be many different haka on Friday, there will be one common theme," Ms Hall explained ahead of the day. |
| "We will be taking a stand against hatred, showing love and compassion for our Muslim community." | "We will be taking a stand against hatred, showing love and compassion for our Muslim community." |
| The haka composed for the Christchurch commemoration | The haka composed for the Christchurch commemoration |
| Here are the words to the haka specially commissioned by the Maori Council to commemorate the victims of the Christchurch shooting. | Here are the words to the haka specially commissioned by the Maori Council to commemorate the victims of the Christchurch shooting. |
| Haka Koiora - Haka for life | Haka Koiora - Haka for life |
| Paiahahā, Paiahahā (Attention! Attention!) | Paiahahā, Paiahahā (Attention! Attention!) |
| He aha rā ka tāpaea ngā mahi kikino (Why do we wait for something bad to happen) | He aha rā ka tāpaea ngā mahi kikino (Why do we wait for something bad to happen) |
| Ki te kūkūtia tātou katoa e? (To eventually come together?) | Ki te kūkūtia tātou katoa e? (To eventually come together?) |
| Ia ha ha! | Ia ha ha! |
| E oho, kia tika rā (Wake up, be true!) | E oho, kia tika rā (Wake up, be true!) |
| Unuhia ngā here o te kino, (Strip away bad things like) | Unuhia ngā here o te kino, (Strip away bad things like) |
| Whakatakē, whakaparahako e (Negativity and belittling others) | Whakatakē, whakaparahako e (Negativity and belittling others) |
| Ko te pūtake o te whakaaro, he kaikir (because the underlining factor is racism) | Ko te pūtake o te whakaaro, he kaikir (because the underlining factor is racism) |
| Takatakahia Hi (Stomp on it) | Takatakahia Hi (Stomp on it) |
| Wherawherahia Hi (Get rid of it) | Wherawherahia Hi (Get rid of it) |
| Kia tū te tangata koia anake (So all that remains is your true person) | Kia tū te tangata koia anake (So all that remains is your true person) |
| Ko au, Ko koe, ko koe, ko au, ko tāua e (I am you, you are me, this is us) | Ko au, Ko koe, ko koe, ko au, ko tāua e (I am you, you are me, this is us) |
| Ko te mea nui o te ao (The greatest thing in this world) | Ko te mea nui o te ao (The greatest thing in this world) |
| He tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata e ('Tis people, 'Tis people, 'Tis people) | He tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata e ('Tis people, 'Tis people, 'Tis people) |
| Hi! | Hi! |
| Composed by Dr Ken Kennedy, Koro Tini and Jamus Webster | Composed by Dr Ken Kennedy, Koro Tini and Jamus Webster |