Here is what haka means in the New Zealand basketball and the meaning of the dance and lyrics, the pregame custom of the New Zealand basketball team has cultural significance
After placing third at the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup in Indonesia, the New Zealand Men’s National Team qualified to play in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Explained what is the haka dance meaning done by New Zealand basketball team and chant lyrics
One year after qualifying, the Tall Blacks from New Zealand are in the Philippines, competing in a group with Greece, Jordan, and the United States. Even though every match will bring a different challenge, the last phase of each game’s preparation for New Zealand will remain the same.
Just before the game begins, the Tall Blacks execute a traditional haka as part of a pregame custom. The 12-person squad does the haka in unison while stomping and rhythmically slapping their bodies in time to a loud shout.
The custom, which is ingrained in the country’s vibrant culture, has frequently elicited noteworthy responses from New Zealand’s adversaries, most notably James Harden and Team USA in 2014.
The haka meaning, explained
A key component of Maori culture is the haka. The Maori are a native Polynesian group in New Zealand. From the official New Zealand basketball website, here is a thorough explanation of the Tall Blacks’ haka, T Kaha:
Contrary to popular belief, the Tall Blacks haka is not a war dance. Former Tall Black, Paora Winitana, says there are many reasons why New Zealanders haka – to celebrate, to acknowledge, to give thanks, at tangi (funerals)…
The objective of the Tall Blacks’ haka Tū Kaha is purely to help us all stand strong, not only as Tall Blacks or as basketball players, but as a people, as New Zealanders. One of the lines is ‘Tuturu whakamaua kia tina,’ which means ‘we honour the past, the present, the future.’ This is us acknowledging everybody who has gone before us, those who will surely follow after and the acceptance of the responsibility we have now to prepare the way forward. We are not standing strong because it’s the 12 guys you see standing against you, we are standing strong because it’s you against every Tall Black and all New Zealanders.”
The same Maori chant, which has significant significance and unites the 12 players in uniform with their entire nation, is used by the Tall Blacks in every game.
New Zealand basketball team haka
As stated by on New Zealand’s official website, “haka are also used to challenge opponents on the sports field.”
It’s vital to remember that there are different haka, with the New Zealand Tall Blacks having their own haka that sets them apart from other national teams like the men’s and women’s rugby teams of New Zealand, each of which utilises a distinct haka.
Meaning of New Zealand basketball team chant
The following is the meaning of the chant recited during the Tall Blacks’ haka:
Tūturu whakamaua kia tina! Tina
Honor the past, the present, the future.
Haumi e hui e… tāiki e!
To all who can hear my voice, listen… We are ready!
Torona kei waho!
We accept your challenge, accept ours.
Hurunuku, Hururangi te hau o Tāwhirmātea, e kaka nei!
The two strongest winds of Tawhiri, Hurunuku and Hururangi are here.
TŪ KAHA O PANGO TE KAKHIKATEA A Hī!
The black singlet stands strong, firm, immovable.
Whakarongo ki ngā pere o te ā-whiowhio
Listen to the fierceness of this great storm.
Haere mai haere mai te hau kaha auē te wehi e!
To the strongest winds we reply, “Bring your best! We will never give in, we have no fear!”
He aha tātau tū tonu ai?
In the midst of this great storm, how are we still standing?
He pakiaka, toi Ariki, toi Uru tapu
Our strength is in our roots, our history, our legacy. This is the vine that connects us with a sacred strength from above.
TŪ KAHA O PANTO TE KAHIKATEA HĪ!
The black singlet stands strong, firm, immovable!”
Why is New Zealand’s basketball team called the Tall Blacks?
The moniker is derived from the name of the rugby team representing New Zealand, the All Blacks. The all-black outfits of the rugby squad served as the inspiration for the team’s moniker. The basketball team’s nickname is a play on that, capitalising on the fact that most of the players are particularly tall in addition to donning black.