The first intimidating “Ka Mate” was preformed by the All Blacks in 1905, and has been considered an important part of international rugby ever since. But, because of recent flash hakas in shopping centres, streets and schools across New Zealand, De Villiers said that New Zealanders risked overexposing the dance as they host this year’s tournament.

He claims that the popularization of the haka will “diminish it’s significance” and that “People are becoming so used to it, it is not a novelty any more and they don’t respect it.”

One of the flash haka performances actually attracted one million viewers on YouTube recently. According to Maori rugby historian, Malcolm Mulholland, the public displays are a wonderful way to display New Zealand’s indigenous culture to the world. He explains that they are “organised by Maori, exhibit Maori culture, are being done in a modern way and get crowds to stop what they’re doing and appreciate an aspect of Maori culture.”

On the other hand, online commentators said that it was an “interesting little dance”, but was “total overkill”.

This isn’t the first time the haka has come under scrutiny. In 1997, British pop group, The Spice Girls were labelled culturally insensitive when they did an impromptu version during a concert in Bali. Also, a New Zealand bakery chain was reprimanded when they featured an ad with gingerbread men doing a squeaky voiced haka.

The Spice girls? Really? Maybe De Villers is right.

[Source: news24]