Kapa Haka: A Passionate Expression of Culture Through Song and Dance
The indigenous people of New Zealand nurtured a rich culture that spread its influence throughout the globe. Although somewhat isolated until the first foreign colonization in the 19th century, their indigenous traditions still live on today. The traditional dance called Kapa Haka encompasses many oral traditions and lessons that generation after generation inherit. Some sub-categories of Kapa Haka include, but are not limited to, Poi, Haka, and Waiata-ā-ringa. All the sub-categories played a vital role in the development of the Māori culture. Along with these vibrant dances, facial expressions called pūkana and Tā moko (tattoos), allow the performers to convey a variety of meanings. Without the specific expression of dance the Māori people would struggle to convey their ethos with other members of the tribe and with outsiders. During the dance they use emphatic motions of their bodies to instill fear and to strike the souls of their enemy, or in modern day context, the souls of bewildered tourists that are not welcome. The significance of the Kapa Haka traditional dance is apparent when looking at all the lessons and values passed down by every generation. With modern day travel and communication, traditions spread rapidly. With the increased ease of travel, outside influence could potentially skew the interpretation and teachings of this cultural phenomenon. Present day Kapa Haka, and other dance forms have transformed, yet still holds their pure traditional values that range from light laughter and fun to fear mongering.
Prior to the 19th century the ethnic makeup of the population of New Zealanders (Kiwis) mostly consisted of Māori people, but many citizens of Western European descent moved into this region of the World. Presently, New Zealand has an estimated 4.5 million people living among its islands. Approximately 600,000 people living in New Zealand identify themselves as Māori, which is only about 15% of the population. The Kapa Haka dance traditions developed within the Māori culture among the various islands of New Zealand. The remote location of these islands (in the Asia-Pacific region) gives New Zealand a sense of isolation and calmness. To the north of New Zealand is Australia, and just north is Fiji. The blending of New Zealand, Australian, and Fijian cultures (as well as other foreign cultures) over nearly eight hundred years has shaped the present day nature of Māori people and other citizens of New Zealand.
New Zealand was unsettled until the 13th century when the Māori migrated from Polynesia. The Māori people migrated from their homeland and settled in New Zealand. To this day these people are considered the indigenous population of New Zealand. Along with their wooden canoes, they brought a rich culture that would soon blossom and develop over many centuries into a display of history and culture. For those six hundred or so years the Māori culture developed purely without any outsider interference. This was important because their culture grew strong roots and flourished. The rural nature of New Zealand allowed for more intimate relationships among the native people. Each specific Māori tribe could bond and form lasting connections with one another, whereas in other more urban areas traditional rituals and values were susceptible to change. The favorable weather was perfect for outdoor performances of Haka, waiata-ā-ringa and Poi. Also, the subtropical climate and the waters around New Zealand that were filled with fish, whales, and seafood were so bountiful that the Māori people used these forms of dance to pay homage the gods. The people of this region were mostly whalers, missionaries, or traders. Other countries relished in the opportunity to colonize such plentiful lands in the 19th century including the British, Irish, Germans and the Dutch. The cultures clashed and some of the Māori people began to adapt the western ways. This outside influence, which started with the New Zealand Company, diluted the passion of the indigenous culture. Although most of the population was still a portion of Māori people, they began to intermarry and the Europeans acted as the superior race of the region. Foreign settlement also played a huge role because the Western Europeans used New Zealand as an Asia-Pacific outpost to get closer to the central Asian countries. The first British settlement was located in Wellington where the Māori recognized Britain’s sovereignty in exchange for the protection of their native lands. Once again, we see the Western European nations stepping outside their boundaries to conquer far away lands. The rural and secluded setting of these islands drove Britain to this area. Now, the British possessed sovereign land in the Asia-Pacific which they later would use to spread their influences north towards central Asia, i.e. British rule of Shanghai, China. Their isolation and rich land aided their development and increased the involvement of other worldly powers, which jointly molded New Zealand into a place centered around a complex historical culture.
Since there are many forms of Kapa Haka dances, I will divide this section into subgenres below and provide how these sounds and facial expressions affect the Māori people, their culture, visitors, as well as some modern day features of these dances.
First, in the Māori language poi can mean any physical object used by the dancers or the accompanying music. Poi is a form of dance in which each performer twirls one or more poi (ball on a chord) in unison while an accompanying melody in sung with the other performers on stage. Direction changes and rhythmic sounds of the ball are made when the ball strikes a part of the performers body.
Most Poi performers are women and they use this dance to portray beauty and agility. In the above video clip, we are able to distinguish between the two performance styles, long versus short. In the long form the strings are equal to the length of the fingertips to the shoulders, whereas the short form the strings are only equal to the length of the fingertips to the wrist. Both styles are used to tell a story where there is often an apparent lesson at the end. Since Poi is a predominately female piece, many young girls aspire to be famous Poi performers when older. The video clip also exemplifies the Māori people skill to stay in unison on stage. The body of performers shows that all act as one. As the World developed and tourists came to visit New Zealand, trinkets and miniature versions of poi equipment were sold, thus, spreading its significance. Modern day, Poi dance is still alive and thriving where the traditional dance combined with modern day technology such as projection technology. Second, the Haka is the traditional war dance of the Māori people of New Zealand. Performed as a group act, the participants maneuver with vigorous movements accompanied by stomping of the feet, shouting, and aggressive facial expressions (pūkana). Originally warriors performed this before battle. The main Māori tradition that has lived on until this day is the Haka, which is most notably preformed by the New Zealand All Blacks Rugby Team during international games. This sub-category of the Kapa Haka is a war dance used to intimidate their opponents.
The social and cultural significance of the Haka can be best seen by the YouTube video where the All Blacks executed a Haka during the pregame of the 2011 World Cup against France. This video has over 10,000,000 views from over fifty countries thus spreading the Māori influence all over the World. The cultural impact of this dance is vast even today. The Haka demonstrates a sense of undying passion and can even be seen in modern day weddings. The Haka dance is a great example of a tangible form of human emotion. As you watch the video you can see how the ring leader ushers out commands and this teammates respond instantaneously in unison. Haka acts as a kind of symphony in which the different parts of the body represent many instruments. The arms, legs, feet, voice, eyes, tongue and the body as a whole combine to express courage, joy or other feelings that relate to a specific piece. The Pūkana expression combined with the aggressive body thrusts really does strike awe, and maybe even fear, in anyone who is watching. The youth uses these teachings to learn about passion needed to conquer everyday life battles. The Poi, which features women as the main performer, teach young girls to embrace their sexually and womanhood. These culturally specific forms of bodily expression allow the Māori people to preserve their practices. Along with lessons taught in the classroom, Kapa Haka and other cultural dances teach the Māori youth invaluable lifelong skills through their ancestral background.
Since most Kapa Haka dances incorporate their native language, chants are passed down generation by generation. For example, with the All Blacks Haka war dance, the rugby team demonstrates a call-and-response musical style. Here the captain utters a command, and the rest of the team responses viciously. The tempo is solely dependent on the captain thus no certain rhythm can be established. Each dance is unique.
The Waiata-ā-ringa is an action song. The lyrics of the song are supports by sharp hand and body movements. For example, performers flutter their hands rapidly to symbolize flowing waters, or even a calm breeze moving over their mainland. A guitar usually accompanies this action song with a variety of tempos depending on the circumstance. It is believed that Sir Apirana Ngata was instrumental in the first ever waiata-a-ringa, and he has become known as ‘The Father of the Action Song’. Following World War Two many Māori people left the countryside and their rural lifestyle and moved to the cities, mainly to find work. Many Māori clubs and culture groups began at this time, and they became very skilled performers of waiata-a-ringa. The themes of waiata-a-ringa at this time were mostly about war, but often they portrayed expressions of sorrow, loss and love that people felt when family members had been killed in action.
To accompany these numerous dances the performers use Pūkana, which are the facial expressions of the Māori people during their performances. They help emphasis a specific point in a song, as well as demonstrate the performers passion in the piece. Men often open their eyes wide and stretch out their tongue, while the women widen their eyes and stick up their chin. The visual look of pūkana may seem strange and harsh, but its real meaning is to serve as a warning or insult.
A Pōwhiri is the Māori welcoming ceremony, which involves dancing, and singing, and is ended by a hongi (a traditional greeting). This ceremony is used mainly to welcome special visitors into the marae, but present day this tradition are often performed for tourist groups. This ceremony in the marae sets the tone for the tribe and their visitors. Most of the traditional Kapa Haka dances are held in the marae, which is basically a fenced-in complex each belonging to that specific tribe. Each tribe can decorate the marae to however it suits the; which also includes a dining hall and restroom. Outside of each families’ respective house, this center is the main community center. It is of utmost importance that the welcoming ceremony is flawless because if it runs smoothly it sets a precedent for the rest of the ceremony.
Tā moko is the art of Māori tattoo, which exemplifies the cultural heritage, and identity of the indigenous people of New Zealand. In early times, these tattoos are an identifier of a specific social rank, knowledge, or skill. Both men and women get these tattoos on their face, but males also get them on their thighs and butts.
Present day researchers such as Wira Gardener, an indigenous New Zealander, are also spreading the awareness of the Māori people over the globe. After serving in the New Zealnd military for twenty years he began his career in public service. The love for his Māori people lead him to be the founding chief executive of the Ministry of Māori Development. Here he lead the department that advised the New Zealand government on policies and issues that would affect the Māori people. For his help with the preservation of the Māori culture, Gardener was made a Knight of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2008. His research of the indigenous people allow outsiders to generate some intuition of the culture and lifestyle of these people. With this newly acquired knowledge, such outsiders may be inclined to travel or even move to New Zealand.
Throughout this chapter, I have illuminated the variety of Māori cultural practices and how they are significant to the culture, history, and the present day population of New Zealand and other cultures around the World. The traditional dance called Kapa Haka encompasses many oral traditions and lessons that are vital to the continuation of history, morals, and values through the youth. This practice passes on knowledge and wisdom through a medium that is not traditional worldwide. All the sub-categories are important in the development of the Māori culture as well for they each offer a different outlet whether it be war, marriage, or acceptimg womanhood, or embracing passion. Foreign intervention In New Zealand from Europe westernized the natives, thus converting some of the Māori people away from their ancestry. Traditional dances were modified to accommodate modernization such as in sports games so that they may not be lost in history. Present day communication poses benefits for the spread and challenges for the preservation of the Māori cultural practices. The Internet can rapidly share the practices of these people on a massive scale. The world is but a finger click away from learning about the rich and extremely unique and diverse practices of a culture that otherwise would be inaccessible. Foreigners may take an interest and adapt some practices as their own teaching the to those they know. Unfortunately, along with the benefits comes the movement of people into New Zealand. Tourism and urbanization dilutes the Māori population and their practices. Currently only 15% of Kiwis (New Zealanders) are native, thus making only remote villages the last places to solely practice these customs. A country once so rich is fighting to exist in a world that disregards history and tradition despite their importance. The legacy of this Asia-Pacific region must be retained in order to preserve one of the Worlds most important indigenous cultures that not only sheds a light into the past, but also gives the future a sense of who they are.
References cited: • Bell, Claudia, and Steve Matthewman. Cultural Studies in Aotearoa New Zealand: Identity, Space and Place. South Melbourne, Vic.: Oxford UP, 2004. Print. • Gardiner, Wira. Haka: A Living Tradition. Auckland, N.Z.: Hodder Moa, 2007. Print. • Nga Hua A Tane Rore: The Benefits of Kapa Haka. Wellington: Crown Copyright, 2014. Http://www.mch.govt.nz/. N.A. June 2014. Web. June 24, 2016. <http://www.mch.govt.nz/>. • Smith, Valance. "Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand." 1. – Kapa Haka – Māori Performing Arts - 25 Feb. 2015. Web. June, 24 2016. <http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/kapa-haka-maori-performing-arts/page-1>. • Whitinui, Paul. "Kapa Haka Counts: Improving Participation Levels of Māori Students in Mainstream Secondary Schools." Web. June 24, 2016. <http://www.review.mai.ac.nz/index.php/MR/article/viewFile/187/194>.