All Blacks reject Haka criticism

[NewsBot]

All Blacks reject Haka criticism

New Zealand backs coach Wayne Smith says Wallabies coach John Connolly is over-reacting to the new Haka.

[Burgs]

I think Peter Jenkins sums it up pretty well:

The Kapa O Pango haka composer, Derek Lardelli, denies the throat-slitting gesture should be taken literally, claiming "the words and motions represent drawing vital energy into the heart and lungs".

Lardelli's explanation suggests the act is not one of aggression and no offence should therefore ever be taken.

But if that is the case, why would the All Blacks hold back from using it against a team they greatly respected?

I also read today in NZ's Rugby News that many senior AB's had made a move to stop doing the haka at all as they felt it was being over commercialised and disrespected however, the NZRU encouraged (read -"pressured") them to continue performing it.
I find it therefore even more puzzling that they would have chosen to perform the truely commercialised and made for television "Kapa O Pango"?
Personally, as much as I respect the haka and the Maori culture behind it, at this point, I am sorry to say, I am over it.

[Happy]

the act is not one of aggression and no offence should therefore ever be taken

You could say the same thing about the handbag haka.

[Burgs]

An interesting development in it all fom NZ.

http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/ar...816299379.html

Part of the story reads:

Meanwhile, NZRU chief executive Chris Moller has said the public needed to be educated about the meaning behind the gesture.

While the haka's final movement had been described as a cut-throat gesture, its meaning within Maori culture and the tradition of haka was very different, he said.

Kapa O Pango composer Derek Lardelli said the haka ended with the word "Ha" meaning "the breath of life".

"The words and motions represent drawing vital energy into the heart and lungs."

The right arm searched for the "Ha" on the left side of the body, Lardelli said, while the head turned to the right also symbolically seeking vital energy.

The right hand hauled that energy into the pou-whakaora (the heart, lungs and air passages), then the eyes and tongue signalled that the energy had been harnessed before it was expelled with the final "Ha".

Check out the photo and try and convince me that the above is the intent of non-Maori's McCaw, Sommerville and Woodcock!

[Sagerian]

"The words and motions represent drawing vital energy into the heart and lungs."

Oh of course! How could I not have seen that?

[shasta]

Personally, I always respected the "original" haka in it's various incarnations and I think I understood why opposition teams faced and respected it.

Since the All Blacks themselves have apparently decided they needed to invent a new one I think that they themselves have shelved the tradition. I agree with Bob Dwyer that there is a high possibility that this is now nothing more than gamesmanship. Opposition teams are now well within their rights to treat this display the way THEY choose. I'd suggest they continue with their own warm-up and ignore them.

I reckon it's all a bit boring now.

[Moses]

I believe the Haka as a maori tradition should be relegated to NZ Maori games.

Watching white Kiwi's dancing any Haka (let alone this butchered version they now insist on) is in my mind as silly as watching Victor Matfield practicing Zulu high-kicks or Matt Dunning dancing a corroboree before kick-off... all in the name of promoting our kulture

[Happy]

I'd suggest they continue with their own warm-up and ignore them.

The Wallabies did just that in 1996, choosing to go on with their warming up, with the disrespect earning them defeat. Queensland's Sam Scott-Young once chose to blow a kiss at props Olo Brown and Richard Loe, who belted him as soon as proceedings were under way.

[The Lone Hydrangea]

Things are getting out of hand when the Tall Blacks(basketball) do the haka before a game!

[shasta]

The Wallabies did just that in 1996, choosing to go on with their warming up, with the disrespect earning them defeat. Queensland's Sam Scott-Young once chose to blow a kiss at props Olo Brown and Richard Loe, who belted him as soon as proceedings were under way.

Yeah, Happy. I remember all that too. I already said that I respected the original as well. BUT the AB's have thrown out that tradition. It's only my opinion and the Wallabies can make their own judgenment.

Sam Scott-Young could look after himself just fine and he probably belted 'em back just as hard.

[Moses]

remember at the Commenwealth games when they did a haka cause some chick got bronze in her event.. and it wasn't just the swimmers - the support staff joined in too!

[Burgs]

Can't see it happening but would love to see the shock on the AB's face if we arced up with Ka Mate Ka Mate!!!

Do your own haka, Sir Howard tells Wallabies

Saturday July 29, 2006
By Jon Stokes
New Zealand Herald

Sir Howard Morrison has stirred along the All Black haka controversy by calling on the Wallabies to do a haka of their own.

"If the All Blacks do Kapa o Pango, then they can do Ka Mate Ka Mate," said the Te Arawa kaumatua.

His nephew, reserve hooker Tai McIsaac, and another Maori in the Wallabies should pick up the challenge, said Sir Howard.

"I rang my nephew after the last test and said to him, 'The haka is no more than a challenge. If a challenge is issued, you are to step forward and do the same thing. You have the mana of Te Arawa and are a representative of your people, you do not have to stand there and accept it'."

He said Kapa o Pango's throat-slitting gesture was not to be taken literally but was part of the challenge, which should be met with a response.

Controversy around the All Blacks' haka has dominated the build-up to tonight's Brisbane match. Australian coach John Connolly called the throat-cutting action "murderous".

All Black coach Graham Henry yesterday fired back, saying, "To have people coming in from outside New Zealand and making statements about how we should keep our backyard tidy is a bit irritating, especially when their backyard is questionable."

Sir Howard urged the Australian rugby union to allow its Maori players to respond, or find an equivalent response from the Aboriginal culture.

"It has been getting up my nose reading all about coaches of different teams including our All Blacks speaking on a subject they know nothing about."

However he was not confident his nephew or fellow Maori Jeremy Paul would respond with Ka Mate Ka Mate.

"He agreed, he said, 'Okay, uncle,' but I don't think he will."

Wallaby spokesman Michael Earsman said the players respected the haka, and would not be responding with one of their own.

- Additional reporting NZPA

[Jethro]

*Yawn*

And John Connolly's next whinge will be about ?

[The InnFORCEr]

You Kiwis resting 35 key players until 2010, that's what!

[Darren]

Now that *would* be funny!