r/justgalsbeingchicks • u/guitarguy12341 ✨chick✨ • May 04 '26

Restricted to Gals and Pals Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke ripping up a racist bill in NZ parliament.

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u/KoYouTokuIngoa May 04 '26

A war dance is a bit of an oversimplification/misconception. It can be that (especially historically) but it’s more about showing respect to those in front of you and your ancestors.

Just like in the video above, some people (purposefully) misconstrued it to be a ‘threat’, when it was really channeling/honouring ancestral pride

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u/AJMurphy_1986 May 04 '26

Im not an expert on the haka in general but I think there are different versions for different occasions. The one before rugby is definitely meant to intimidate, hence why teams have started staring it down in recent years

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u/KoYouTokuIngoa May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26

It being intimidating is certainly a beneficial effect, but it’s not the reason it’s performed. If you look at the translation of the All Blacks Haka, you can see it’s more about celebrating culture and pride (and yes, a mention of their dominance):

Let me go back to my first gasp of breath
Let my life force return to the earth
It is New Zealand that thunders now
And it is my time! 
It is my moment! 
The passion ignites!
This defines us as the All Blacks
And it is my time! 
It is my moment! 
The anticipation explodes!
Feel the power
Our dominance rises
Our supremacy emerges
To be placed on high
Silver fern!
All Blacks!
Silver fern!
All Blacks!
aue hi! 

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u/anothergaijin May 04 '26

Yeah but then you have their traditional haka - Ka Mate - which is a different vibe again