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Ireland face the haka twice next month, but what does it really mean to the All Blacks?

We spoke to Doug Howlett, Tiki Edwards and Joe Royal about the famous Māori tradition.

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This post is part of The42′s Facing History series, supported by Cadbury Boost. To read more, click here.

The haka is synonymous with the All Blacks, completely inseparable from their global rugby identity.

Those who have seen the All Blacks performing a haka live often remember the Māori tradition just as vividly as the rugby that follows.

‘Ka Mate’ is recognisable throughout the rugby world, and even beyond it, while ‘Kapa o Pango’ has also been performed by the All Blacks since 2005.

At all tiers of the game in New Zealand, haka are common. Ireland will face the All Blacks’ haka in Chicago and Dublin next month, Munster front up against the Māori All Blacks on 11 November, and Ireland Women take on the Black Ferns on 27 November.

So what do haka really mean?

We asked New Zealand Rugby’s Māori Rugby development manager, Tiki Edwards, to explain the true meaning of a tradition that is deeply rooted in Māori culture.

As the man who teaches New Zealand’s international teams how to perform haka, and why they perform them, Edwards is better qualified than anyone in the rugby world to provide insight.

Thanks to Te Puia, a Rotorua-based centre for Māori cultural experiences and home to a geothermal valley with famous geysers, for allowing filming of their haka.

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    Mute james
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    Oct 13th 2016, 6:52 PM

    I like it and enjoy the spectacle but teams being fined for responding to it is madness…if it’s laying down a challenge fine but allow a response.

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    Mute Dan
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    Oct 13th 2016, 5:37 PM

    Those who say it shouldn’t be allowed are only demonstrating the power of it. If it scares you hide under a cushion. The top professionals see it as a challenge and it motivates them as much as the All Blacks. The Munster Haka was, of course, the best.

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    Mute Patrick Heavey
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    Oct 13th 2016, 7:55 PM

    Watched that game live, and have watched the YouTube Munster Haka clip many times. That passion gives me goosebumps every time. Even as a Leinster man.

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    Mute Thomas Moroney
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    Oct 13th 2016, 8:40 PM

    @Martin Quinn: No need for that at all. You express many ludicrous views while the only thing you use to defend them is that they are your opinions, then you insult Dan for expressing his opinion? Shame on you for not showing the same level of respect that you demand people show to you. On your point Dan, agree totally. People crying that it’s an unfair advantage serve as examples as to how much influence it has. Up to ourselves to break it’s power.

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    Mute Thomas Moroney
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    Oct 13th 2016, 10:40 PM

    Martin, you have your 3 points you disagree with, I disagree with your central premise. You believe that the Haka gives the All Blacks an unfair advantage, I disagree. It’s up to each team to prepare psychologically for them, they are a unique challenge. Each team can have their pre-match rituals, in some cases they become a part of the team’s traditions, they shouldn’t all be gotten rid of entirely. If you were annoyed about us not being able to challenge it, I’d agree, there should be the option to respond to it in some way. But you want to get rid of it entirely, which seems like a serious overreaction.

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    Mute Thomas Moroney
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    Oct 13th 2016, 11:28 PM

    They didn’t show their objection to it Martin. If they really did, they’d be attempting to prevent them doing it before the game like you. Instead, they attempted to engage with it. I think that teams should be allowed to engage with it. Doing it after the match? When the players are wrecked and the fans just want to go home? These kinds of rituals are supposed to add to the match.

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    Mute JEPMC
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    Oct 13th 2016, 5:45 PM

    Tonga, Samoa and Fiji also all perform versions of war dance/haka before an rugby international. It’s tradition and should be enjoyed by the public and should inspire the opposite team to rise their game and meet the challenge.

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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    Oct 13th 2016, 5:37 PM

    It means revenue, merchandise sales for Adidas, ticket sales, sponsorship deals and TV rights, simple. Many Maori elders are unhappy with its use and commercialisation and have called it insulting of their culture.

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    Mute John Kelly
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    Oct 13th 2016, 6:24 PM

    @Paul Fahey: Yep unhappy old people seems to a common issue across all cultures

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    Mute Richie Da 600cc
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    Oct 13th 2016, 5:29 PM

    Personally I believe if they want to do the haka they can it their dressing room, I’m fine with that but have always disagreed with how it is done. No other national team has this, yet I’m sure all have legitimate traditional greetings. I don’t see why the All Blacks are allowed, I not buy into any of the “excuses”. If I had ever had the good fortune to have faced the All Blacks in a game, personally I would have walked away turned my back and not given them the opportunity to try intimidate me, which is how see ,not the haka itself, but how the All Blacks are allowed do it. Now I know I’m not towing the party line here in my views but they are my views.

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    Mute Ben Gunn
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    Oct 13th 2016, 6:02 PM

    The haka is a great tradition and should be preserved. If you think it intimidating then you should not take up the game. I faced the haka once playing for my club against an incoming touring team(not international) and had to refrain from applauding them when they had finished. If you want to see intimidation, recall Paul O’Connell giving the look at his opponents seconds before kick-off.

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    Mute Frantic Pigeon
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    Oct 13th 2016, 7:17 PM

    No other team except Fiji, Samoa & Tonga.

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    Mute Martin Quinner
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    Oct 14th 2016, 12:52 PM

    @Martin Quinn: Your hatred of all things Southern Hemisphere must be crippling. You’ve a serious chip on the shoulder about the All Blacks and Super Rugby

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Oct 14th 2016, 11:22 PM

    I love watching the haka, it’s riveting, very striking to watch, and adds to the game. Energy, anticipation, it’s all engaging for fans. (Maybe Martin could watch a few YouTube videos of it at weddings? It might change the impact for him.) I hope any objectors don’t have their own way and standardise it all. If a sport is international, you expect some variety, it can’t all be familiar.

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    Mute Etherman
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    Oct 13th 2016, 5:02 PM

    It means thigh slapping fun that ain’t line dancing – cool.

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    Mute Alex Murray
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    Oct 13th 2016, 5:19 PM

    Haka is pointless and should be banned, why this is allowed in a modern professional sport is a joke, would they let us do riverdance before a game, I doubt it

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    Mute Elma Phudd
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    Oct 13th 2016, 5:23 PM

    They let us sing two anthems at home.

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    Mute Richie Da 600cc
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    Oct 13th 2016, 5:32 PM

    @Elma Phudd: Yes they do at HOME not away, plus the Irish rugby team represents 2 different countries, while the one country All Blacks can haka all the time.

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    Mute Elma Phudd
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    Oct 13th 2016, 11:34 PM

    Martin, how do you deduce I’m not proud and how do you deduce I know nothing about rugby? I played the game, I support my club, province and country, and I have a child that plays. That ‘you know nothing’ snobbery is so w@nky.

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    Mute Paddy Kennedy
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    Oct 13th 2016, 6:56 PM

    It’s absolute nonsense and should be banned. Teams should just challenge it a la Willie Duggan back in the day.

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    Mute Mr KnowitAll
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    Oct 13th 2016, 8:42 PM

    @Paddy Kennedy:
    Instead of challenging it ,teams should turn they’re back’s to it.Throw a few balls around and continue with the warm up !
    It is Cringe City now at at this stage !

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    Mute Carlos Blanco
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    Oct 14th 2016, 8:36 AM

    The All Blacks have been doing it for decades. Fiji, Samoa, Tonga have their own ritual too. The other teams accept that, the fans love that, it’s good for the game. Some people keep complaining and it always failed to stop that. It’s naive to think that All Blacks have advantage because of the haka. They are incredible team with and without haka. The other pacific nations are mediocre with and without their ritual. So let’s just leave it there.

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    Mute Ken Pepper
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    Oct 14th 2016, 12:00 AM

    As camp as the YMCA

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    Mute andrew
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    Oct 13th 2016, 5:33 PM

    What does it mean….More TUEs?

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    Mute austin flevin
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    Oct 13th 2016, 7:42 PM

    Israel have one too. Haka Na Geela, Haka Na Geela.

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    Mute Summer Bay Devil
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    Oct 14th 2016, 2:40 PM

    Let them dance away if they want. Do a Campese and do your own thing. Would there be fines if a team didn’t line up to have faces made at them?

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    Mute Gavin Healy
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    Oct 14th 2016, 2:30 AM

    I love the theatrics of it, it is a great spectacle before a game.

    I am slightly in disagreement about the reverence that they believe it should be held in, however. There is little historically accurate about it. Challenges should be welcome to it.

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    Mute Eoin Fitzpatrick
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    Oct 14th 2016, 4:06 PM

    I don’t enjoy the Haka at all. I actually get embarrassed by the whole thing, watching white men jumping around like morons. I always wondered if we could do the Siege of Ennis or some other Irish dance and get away with it?

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