It’s been performed on the red carpet and on the rugby field, at funerals and weddings. The haka is a captivating ceremonial dance of New Zealand’s Maori people, traditionally used on the battlefield but also used to mark the significance of an occasion, be it a celebration or a commemoration.
In the aftermath of Friday’s mosque shootings, which killed 50 Muslim worshipers and injured more than 40, New Zealanders came together across the country to honor the victims.
In particularly evocative haka tributes, students, bikers and other groups chanted in unison, channeling their grief, shock and sadness into a physical act that symbolized respect for the victims.