Masculinity of New Zealand
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Masculinity of New Zealand
Haka dance and Rugby
The Haka is an ancient posture dance of the New Zealand Maori and was traditionally used to prepare a war party for conflict. But, going to the fountainhead, the first use of the haka in the natural world was attributed to the chief Tinirau and some of his womenfolk. He sent a hunting party of women to find an old priest called Kae responsible for killing his pet whale. Only feature the party knew about him was that he had uneven teeth that overlapped. When they arrived at his village, they performed the haka to make people laugh so that they could figure out who Kae was. Eventually, Kae was captured and killed by them.
“Haka” literally means a dance, or a song accompanied by dance. So, it is the generic name for all Maori dances. In pre-European and early contact times, the haka was used in mainly 2 occasions. It would be performed either on the battle field, prior to engagement with the enemy or as the war party was leaving their own village en route to a confrontation. Although there are some Hakas performed by all, regardless of sex or only by women, most of them are performed only by male.
Today, haka is defined as that part of the Maori dance repertoire where the men are to the fore with the women lending vocal support in the rear. Now the haka can be seen in sporting event like Rugby game. All Blacks, which is New Zealand’s male rugby team, perform the famous haka; Ka Mate Ka Mate, to threaten an opposing team and show them their strength. This has become a unique symbol and an icon of New Zealand. Even the New Zealand army also has their own haka now.
Masculinity in Modern Society
In modern New Zealand, their masculinity is reflected mainly in Rugby. The sport of rugby union has long been a cornerstone of masculinity in New Zealand, in both the creation and the enforcement of what it means to be a man in this country. Rugby’s position as “more than just a game to the New Zealander … something of the...
Haka dance and Rugby
The Haka is an ancient posture dance of the New Zealand Maori and was traditionally used to prepare a war party for conflict. But, going to the fountainhead, the first use of the haka in the natural world was attributed to the chief Tinirau and some of his womenfolk. He sent a hunting party of women to find an old priest called Kae responsible for killing his pet whale. Only feature the party knew about him was that he had uneven teeth that overlapped. When they arrived at his village, they performed the haka to make people laugh so that they could figure out who Kae was. Eventually, Kae was captured and killed by them.
“Haka” literally means a dance, or a song accompanied by dance. So, it is the generic name for all Maori dances. In pre-European and early contact times, the haka was used in mainly 2 occasions. It would be performed either on the battle field, prior to engagement with the enemy or as the war party was leaving their own village en route to a confrontation. Although there are some Hakas performed by all, regardless of sex or only by women, most of them are performed only by male.
Today, haka is defined as that part of the Maori dance repertoire where the men are to the fore with the women lending vocal support in the rear. Now the haka can be seen in sporting event like Rugby game. All Blacks, which is New Zealand’s male rugby team, perform the famous haka; Ka Mate Ka Mate, to threaten an opposing team and show them their strength. This has become a unique symbol and an icon of New Zealand. Even the New Zealand army also has their own haka now.
Masculinity in Modern Society
In modern New Zealand, their masculinity is reflected mainly in Rugby. The sport of rugby union has long been a cornerstone of masculinity in New Zealand, in both the creation and the enforcement of what it means to be a man in this country. Rugby’s position as “more than just a game to the New Zealander … something of the...