Haka (sports) - Use By Other Teams

Use By Other Teams

See also: Haka performed by non-New Zealand sports teams

Other New Zealand sports teams have similarly performed the haka before a match. The tradition of performing a haka before every Test Match is just as strong with the Kiwis, the New Zealand national rugby league team, performing it before every game. It is also performed by the Australian rules football team and Tall Blacks. The New Zealand Māori have performed the 'Timatanga' haka since 2001. When Munster hosted the All Blacks at Thomond Park in November 2008, the four New Zealand players in the Munster team performed their own haka prior to the All Blacks. In the documentary Murderball, the New Zealand paralympic rugby team can be seen performing a modified version of the haka.

At the opening parade of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, the New Zealand team stopped in front of the Queen and performed a haka.

New Zealand teams have attracted some criticism for performing the haka, on occasions such as winning a swim relay bronze medal.

In 2009, Ice Blacks did their haka before their ice hockey match against Australia.

The high-profile of the All Blacks, and their use of the haka has led to other Pacific teams to use similar dances from their own cultures, such as the Cibi, Kailao, and Siva tau. Other teams from the Pacific and elsewhere however have performed the Ka Mate or Kapa O Pango haka. For instance, the "Kapa O Pango" haka was used by the University of Hawaii Warriors in 2006, before they created their own war dance, the "Haʻa", in the Hawaiian language with original movements.

The Black Sticks, the (field) hockey team, also perform a haka.

The football team at the University of Arizona also performs a haka during their pre-game activities.