[FulcrumPilot]

http://www.piccom.org/dancesoflife/maorihaka256.html

Would love to frikking join in myself!

[ManOfSteal]

I'm hot & bothered watching that.

[Ω]

Just ask B O'D and Sir Clive about the haka.

[budster101]

What plugin do you need to view that?

[AKcrab]

RealPlayer

[Corintheus]

I can't be bothered downloading realplayer to watch that, but I'm guessing that's what the NZ team do at the beginning of every Rugby Union and Rugby League match.

[xenu]

I visited New Zealand in May, and went to a Maori village, amoung other things. The dance is very energetic, and looks quite painful from all the slapping.

Then again, I imagine pain is relative once you have tattoos chisled into you.

Edit: Spelling correction, sorry.
If you can visit NZ do so, it's a beautiful country.

[Ω]

Originally Posted by Corintheus

I can't be bothered downloading realplayer to watch that, but I'm guessing that's what the NZ team do at the beginning of every Rugby Union and Rugby League match.

It is great seeing a game where NZ plays against a Pacific Island team, as they also have their own versions.

One of the best I have seen was when the NZ Under 21 rugby team played a few years ago and the level of intensity was well above the national team.

And the fans love it as well

[B Gallagher]

Maori, not Mauri! AUgh!!!!!!!!!

And yes, the haka is what we kiwis do before every rugby game.

The dance (the haka) is not *that* painful - certainly nothing compared to what I can only imagine a tattoo would be like!

[Ω]

Originally Posted by B Gallagher

Maori, not Mauri! AUgh!!!!!!!!!

Pedant

Look you even made him change his post and make a nice statement about the country!

[xenu]

Originally Posted by Ω

Pedant

Look you even made him change his post and make a nice statement about the country!

I felt I needed to do more than just correct the spelling error. I was there for 3 weeks, and really should have known the correct spelling.

It really is a lovely country. The south island in particular.

Shame about the red wine though. The whites weren't bad.

[Ω]

Originally Posted by xenu

Shame about the red wine though. The whites weren't bad.

Could have told you that. Only Pinot Noir is worth looking at, and even then only from select regions such as Central Otago or Martinborough.

Next time ask, ok?

[xenu]

Originally Posted by Ω

Could have told you that. Only Pinot Noir is worth looking at, and even then only from select regions such as Central Otago or Martinborough.

Next time ask, ok?

You bet!

[skalie]

Are there any British rugby fans aboard here btw?

[buggsuperstar]

Originally Posted by Ω

It is great seeing a game where NZ plays against a Pacific Island team, as they also have their own versions.

I have to say I love watching the Haka whenever the All Blacks play. It really stirs something primal deep down and is perfectly suited for the game of rugby. (y)

During the last world cup, I watched New Zealand vs Tonga and they each had their own version of the Haka. But having seen Tonga's and Fiji's, the All Blacks Haka is still the best.

[skalie]

Originally Posted by skalie

Are there any British rugby fans aboard here btw?

*deafening silence*

[philm]

Yep, fan of the World Champions right here. I guess you are implying the poor performance of the B&I Lions, the Harlem Globetrotters of rugby. Anyway, respect to the 'Blacks for ruthlessly doing the business.

A few years back I was a guest speaker at a conference in Roturua and I was nominated as the 'representative' of the overseas speakers. At the start of this conference I had to go on stage to receive the full Maori welcome in front of a big audience. As any Kiwi will presumably know, history has it that when a newcomer went into a Maori patch there was a bit of a song and dance (literally) and the boss Maori approached the stranger and placed a dagger/blade on the ground. If the stranger picked up the dagger it meant that he came in peace and everyone cracked open the beers and put the telly on. If he left it, it meant that he came in war.

To be honest, at this conference I fancied leaving it on the floor and see if it all kicked off. I reckoned I could have taken the big guy at the front. What a start ot an academic conference that would have been. Guest speaker savagely beaten at the start - the would have needed to quickly juggle the program round.

But what I like best is that the people who turn up to do that Haka all have day jobs - they're all accountants and lawyers in real life. Also, the definition of Maori is pretty liberal. I think you need to be 1/16th Maori to call yourself a Maori. I went to see England play NZ Maori on that trip. For every Changi Kokiri on the team there were two Bob Smiths.

[wdlove]

An interesting dance.

[andi*pandi]

hm, so this is what we're in for in 3 weeks.

[The Placid Casual]

I have seen this in person many times when I have watched the New Zealand All Blacks play rugby...

In a word... awesome.

Never fails to send shivers down my spine! God knows I'd feel playing in a team standing against them!

Check out this link too:

The All Blacks against Tonga, who themselves have a kind of war dance called the SIPI TAU they use before Rugby matches:

http://homepage.mac.com/nicx22/.Movies/NZ1.mpg

[Ω]

You do realise it is middle of winter, or are you going to do some skiing?

[turtle777]

Mwahaha

-t

[andi*pandi]

possibly skiing. a little cold doesn't scare us!

[grobbins]

Originally Posted by Corintheus

I can't be bothered downloading realplayer to watch that

It's a cool clip. The player is a free and simple download on the Mac; just drag it to your applications folder after downloading and launch it once.

[budster101]

That. Was. Awhahsome!

I saw these guys or rather a contingent at the Museum of Natural History in Chicago about 17 years ago. Very cool.

[rambo47]

[B Gallagher]

Originally Posted by xenu

I felt I needed to do more than just correct the spelling error. I was there for 3 weeks, and really should have known the correct spelling.

It really is a lovely country. The south island in particular.

Thanks. Glad you liked it so much - which cities in particular did you go to?

[rambo47]

I always like the Adidas commercial with the All Blacks doing the Haka flashing back and forth to Maoris doing it as well. Good version, and there's a shot of one of my favorite players, Jonah Lomu.

http://homepage.mac.com/rseijas/.movies/haka_adidas.mov