Haka!!!

[Cacteur]

I collect the odd piccy here and there, to maybe use in signatures or avatars or whatever, especially Maori stuff. It also occurred to me most of you are probably wondering what I'm up to in my current AW avatar.

I found all of these today on my HD in a folder called HAKA!!! Those of you who have ever watched New Zealanders playing sports, (or getting pissed in London) have probably seen a kind of a bullshit haka, although the NZ All Blacks have a pretty serious version they always do before tests.

It's a kind of challenge of acknowledgement, of welcome, or before war. Despite the meanderings of British sports journalists, it is not to work yourself up before a fight. It's an acknowledgement of your opponents power, and a declaration that we will pull out all the stops in dealing with you, and in doing so, show you the respect you deserve.

Most of these are from what we call Kapa Haka competitions, where Maori performance art groups gather in a competitive situation.

These first lot were taken by a German photographer at a concert in Hawai'i. Despite getting no permission from the performers, he has copyrighted them, and will only sell them for $US8 each, even to the people in them. I got these by saving web pages as PDF's :evil3:

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/470252613_d8658720ce.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/470252593_4472df0310.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/470252597_98da6e178d.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/470252587_66b97c293f.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/470252585_71b2f16e43.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/467943617_2b020ac0af.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/471523001_c5fed56422.jpg

As I said, they are copyrighted, but do whatever you want with them, damn thieving bastard. No wonder I hate copyright laws.

The rest are from all over the show...

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/2264033349_497090404d_b.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/2264811938_21ee12d0b7_b.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/2264821274_58a4897e66_b.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/2264826544_4b6f4ebdc0_b.jpg

This one's from the Military Tatoo in Edinborough
http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/2300128411_d3065224e6_o.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/502564414_9c976a7093_b.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/513657604_6561df3b89_b.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/846731028_efb431e143_o.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/850760306_d2e65b8987_o.jpg

... only 20 images a post eh? Fair enough.... contd...

[Cacteur]

contd....

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/13900685_ed824b2a6d_b.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/13900806_533101cca9_b.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/14032641_e527228f42_b.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/14032672_671d45db1c.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/288300687_5ffd230fa5_b.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/288301311_101c161f4f_b.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/288301736_e9c1c53e8a_b.jpg

And finally, the All Blacks...

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/TheAllBlackchallenge.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/BoksfacethechallengeinDunedin.jpg

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/Aussiefacesthehaka.jpg

Fucken brilliant eh? I love it man!!!:thumbsup:

[Memento Mori]

I haven't seen one in a while, but I've caught them from time to time, be it rugby, Maori documentaries, or whatever. There something rather captivating about it. Great pictures, some didn't 'alf crack me up though.

[kenz]

is there any story behind the tatoos?

[Kenshi]

i love that last pic how the other group is just standing there while the all blacks are doing the haka, its def. bad ass. i would feel like a dumb ass if i was them, and i would feel like the shit if i was in the all blacks during that time. i mean, you would have to be a little intimidated seeing that, of course depending on how good they are i know nothing about them

[Cacteur]

is there any story behind the tatoos?

Traditionally yes.. They were unique to the individual, but would have tribal and ancestral elements. The amount of lines on the forehead, the type and placement of cheek spirals, they would all have some reference to ancestors and their deeds. They were your signature, and were often drawn on paper as a signature when the Brits arrived...

[Cacteur]

i love that last pic how the other group is just standing there while the all blacks are doing the haka, its def. bad ass. i would feel like a dumb ass if i was them, and i would feel like the shit if i was in the all blacks during that time. i mean, you would have to be a little intimidated seeing that, of course depending on how good they are i know nothing about them

They are the Aussies, and they are doing the "right thing". You are supposed to front up and take the challenge with honour. The Aussies and the Boks (South Africans), and in fact most Rugby nations "do the right thing", but the British teams have somehow got it into their heads that it is an unfair pre match warmup, and have taken to turning their backs and doing stretch exercises during it. In a Maori sense this just makes them look ridiculous, and I reckon the All Blacks should stop doing it for them. They don't deserve the honour.

Although the AB's are not the current holders of the World Cup, we do hold the current number one ranking, and usually do. We are the most internationally successful team of all time. We are the team to beat for any national team. Most international players will tell you that the highlight of their Rugby lives was facing an All Black Haka. Rugby is a religion in New Zealand.

To me the Haka is like the bagpipes to a Scotsman, the Star Spangled Banner to an American, or Blood Of Our Fathers to a Welshman. The hairs on my neck stand up, my eyes water, and I have an overwhelming desire to leap to my feet, stick out my tongue and pound my chest.. it's hard to explain... :excited:

[kenz]

"They were your signature, and were often drawn on paper as a signature when the Brits arrived... "

i dont get what you mean by this part. i understand the rest

they were my signature to identify maori?

[Cacteur]

"They were your signature, and were often drawn on paper as a signature when the Brits arrived... "

i dont get what you mean by this part. i understand the rest

they were my signature to identify maori?

When the British required a signature from Maori, (ie on the Treaty Of Waitangi, our founding document.), and that Maori was illiterate, he often draw his 'ta moko', or facial tatoo on the document, as it was unique to him.