Haka | Bonding 1000 Years in the Making

You may have heard some buzz about our new offering, The HakaWorks Team Building Program. This new program is unlike any other we offer and is deeply rooted in the cultural practice of haka.

So what is haka?

Haka is a posture dance which engages body, movement, voice and the collective strength of the group. It is a traditional dance of the Maori people, the indigenous people of New Zealand. Haka has become more visible as of late as it is performed by the All Blacks, the New Zealand Rugby team, the current holders of the rugby world cup and one of the highest and most successful teams in the world. They perform it as a ritual prior to their rugby games as a way to acknowledge their origins, to connect with their identity and to demonstrate their commitment to defeating the opposition.

The haka has been performed by the All Blacks for well over 100 years. It has been performed by Maori for well over 1000 years. There are hundreds if not thousands of different haka. Like songs, they tell stories and help bind the performers to their family or tribal identity and help express deeply held convictions. They are performed in all sorts of situations; famously, as a war dance to unite the troops and to intimidate the enemy. But equally, haka are performed in other contexts – be that to welcome special guests, to celebrate special occasions such as birthday’s or weddings, to farewell loved ones, or simply to have fun and entertain.

Whatever the purpose, it’s about your team or your people coming together, showing their passion, belief, their generosity, and conviction in achieving their ultimate collective purpose. It can engage and energize you and help strengthen the unity of your team. We invite you to contact an account manager today and see what this program can do for you!

Emily D

Team Contributor

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