The Haka: 5 Ways It Builds Cohesion in Professional Teams

If you want to understand what real team unity feels like, watch the haka. There’s something unmistakable about a group of people moving, breathing, and shouting as one, a force that seems to come from somewhere deeper than rehearsal or choreography. That’s because it does. This ancient practice is one of the most powerful team building traditions in the world, and in this article, I’ll break down exactly why it works so well for professional teams.

My name is Karl Burrows. I’m a New Zealander of Maori descent and the founder of Haka Works, and I’ve been running haka team building workshops for more than fifteen years. What started as a way to share my culture has become something I genuinely believe is one of the most effective tools for building cohesion in professional teams. I’ll show you why.

What is the haka?

The haka is a traditional Maori dance form originating with the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand. Far more than a performance, it’s a living expression of culture, identity, and collective emotion. Traditionally, different types of haka served different purposes: some were war dances performed before battle, others celebrated births, welcoming ceremonies, or farewells to the deceased. Each carries its own words, its own story, and its own intention.

This practice engages the whole body: the stamping feet, the outstretched tongue, the wide eyes, the powerful voice. Every element has meaning. The meaning of haka is rooted in the idea of fully inhabiting the present moment and channeling that energy outward, toward the group and toward a shared purpose.

How has the haka evolved over time?

Originally, the Maori haka was performed exclusively within tribal contexts, a practice tied to land, ancestry, and communal identity. Over the centuries, it entered new contexts, gaining visibility on the world stage in the 20th century.

The most widely recognized version today is “Ka Mate,” performed by the All Blacks, New Zealand’s legendary rugby team, before every test match. For millions of viewers around the world, that haka experience introduced the practice as something both ancient and electric: a ritual of preparation that unites the team and connects them to their core purpose.

The New Zealand haka dance has since crossed borders in remarkable ways. Hollywood figures like Dwayne Johnson and Jason Momoa have embraced it publicly. American football players have performed it on the field. And increasingly, organizations around the world are discovering that the cultural significance of this tradition translates powerfully into the corporate environment.

The cultural significance of the haka

Understanding the cultural significance of the haka matters before we bring it into a business context. This isn’t a novelty or a party trick. It’s a sacred practice passed down through generations of Maori people. When performed with respect and intention, it’s an invitation to participate in something much larger than yourself.

That’s precisely what makes it so effective for team cohesion. It asks you to let go of self-consciousness and commit fully to the group. It asks you to be present, to trust the people beside you, and to contribute your voice and energy to a shared purpose. They’re exactly what high-performing teams are built on.

After a haka performance for IBM, an Executive Director from the company said:

“What you just did: the commitment, the unity, the energy. That’s exactly what I want from my team.”

So we asked ourselves: what is it about this that creates such strong unity? What builds the cohesion? What drives such commitment to shared purpose?

The answers led to a discovery: what creates unity in haka teams also creates unity in professional teams. We’ve broken it down into five key points.

5 ways the haka builds cohesion in professional teams

1. The haka is authenticity

To build an effective team, you need a culture of collaboration, and that means people have to set aside their egos. The ego says, this is me. This is who I am. No one messes with me. It’s fragile, defensive, and ultimately not real. It’s a protective layer we develop to create a sense of self in a complex world.

Authenticity recognizes this for what it is. It says: I’m not attached to this false idea of self. I’m open. I’m vulnerable. And behind that vulnerability is real strength: strength in humility, strength in compassion, strength in genuine connection with others.

When we haka, there is no room for ego. You give everything to the moment. You’re in flow. It’s a mindful, embodied practice that moves you out of your head and into your body, into the group, into the present. That shift from performance to presence is what allows real trust to form between team members.

2. The haka is energy

We all know the energy that comes from working in a connected team, where people share ideas freely, support each other, and build on each other’s momentum in a safe, open space. That’s the energy this practice is designed to generate.

“Haka” literally means “to ignite the breath” or “to fire the spirit.” Once you strip back the layers of ego and connect with your authentic self, you release energy. That energy reverberates through your body and voice. And then, here’s the important part: you share it. With the people beside you. With the audience watching. In a generous, open-hearted way.

That’s exactly what great team cooperation looks like in practice: people bringing their full energy and sharing it freely for the benefit of the whole.

3. The haka is the spirit of team

Unity starts with a mindset: putting others before yourself. In tribal societies, people worked collaboratively out of necessity. The group was the basic unit of survival, which created deep respect, loyalty, commitment, and selflessness.

Modern organizations haven’t changed as much as we’d like to think. The businesses that thrive are the ones where teams operate with tribal levels of trust and collaboration, agile enough to adapt, connected enough to move as one. This is a collaborative pursuit. You don’t haka alone. You move together, support each other, and show up for each other. That togetherness creates a synchronized energy that binds the group and gives rise to something you simply can’t manufacture any other way: genuine team spirit.

4. The haka is purpose

A compelling shared purpose galvanizes professional teams. When people are driven by something meaningful, they commit. They make sacrifices. They put the team before themselves and align their individual effort with a shared goal.

When we haka, we do it for a reason. It might be to celebrate, to welcome, to mourn, or simply to enjoy ourselves together. Without purpose, it becomes a show. The ego creeps back in. Energy scatters and dissipates. But when there’s a clear, shared purpose, haka channels all of that energy into a single, powerful expression, one that moves people in ways that a slideshow or a strategy memo never could.

5. The haka is bravery

What is bravery, really? It’s a calculated commitment to take your chances, and it’s essential in business and in life. Professional teams need a corporate culture that enables people to make bold decisions, commit to action, and accept the possibility of failure.

That culture is built from everything we’ve described:

• Authenticity: Being humble, being open about the risks, and being honest about the possibility of failure
• Energy: Creating an environment of trust where vulnerability is welcomed, and possibility is exciting
• Spirit of team: Knowing you’re not doing it alone. You’re supported, seen, and moving forward together
• Purpose: Being so committed to your ultimate goal that you’re willing to make personal sacrifices to achieve it

When all four of these elements come together, you get bravery. That’s when teams stop playing it safe and start doing remarkable things.

Experience the haka with your team

In our haka workshops, we ask participants to let go of ego, be authentic, and commit with a generosity of spirit. When you do, you connect to your authentic source of power. Sharing that energy with others creates unity. Focusing it on a shared goal turns that unity into momentum.

That’s how haka builds cohesion, and it’s why this ancient New Zealand dance has found a new home in boardrooms, conference centers, and corporate retreats around the world.

Ready to give your team a haka experience they won’t forget? Explore TeamBonding’s Haka Team Building program and see how it can transform the way your people show up for each other.