The Haka Experience Is Helping To Take Māori Culture To The World
The Haka Experience, a Māori Performing Arts group, are spreading Māori culture and traditional values throughout New Zealand and around
the world World with their performances and cultural workshops.
The Auckland based group of performers offer an authentic cultural experience by showcasing New Zealand’s strong Māori
heritage. Through the use of traditional Māori song and dance, alongside detailed costumes, make-up, and props like Poi
and Taiaha - they have thrilled audiences all around the world.
The Haka Experience was founded by Tapeta Wehi, a prominent expert in Māori culture and performing arts. He follows in
the footsteps of his parents, Dr Ngapo Wehi and Pimia Wehi who have received numerous awards and achievements for their
efforts in preserving Māori culture with their own group - Pounamu Performing Arts & Te Waka Huia.
“I have taken the teachings, values and knowledge bestowed in me by my late parents to guide me and continue our strong
Māori traditions.” says Tapeta Wehi, director and co-founder of The Haka Experience.
To date, The Haka Experience have performed at numerous events including opening the NRL Indigenous Round for the Vodafone Warriors. Partnering with New Zealands largest sports stadium, Eden Park, was a major highlight for 2018. This formed a new
experience for people wanting to learn the famous rugby haka pre-match ritual.
They have performed for numerous businesses such as Olympus, USANA Health Sciences and Sportsnet Holidays, hosting
cultural workshops that teach traditional songs and dances and help achieve unity in the workplace with team building
exercises. They have also been invited to performances all over the world, including opening of Volcano Island at Universal Studios in Orlando, USA, and welcoming honoured guests in Shanghai, China.
Ending 2018 on a high, they wrapped up an 8-week course with ATEED (Auckland Tourism Events & Economic Development), choreographing and teaching the group their very own Haka. The Haka was exclusively written and
composed by Tapeta Wehi and was designed to encompass the company’s core vision and values. Since then many corporate
companies have shown interest in holding workshops and getting their own company Haka’s written.
Haka Workshops are one of many corporate services that The Haka Experience offer. Their Cultural Workshops are designed for businesses wanting to incorporate traditional Maori cultural values into their workplace. The
workshops are custom-bundled to suit and can include an array of services. Along with the popular Haka Workshops,
services include Pronunciation of Te Reo Maori, Waiata (songs) Workshops and learning Maori History & Values.
2019 is promising to be the biggest year yet for the group as they continue to teach audiences and perform around the
globe.
The Haka Experience can be reached at: https://www.thehakaexperience.com/
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