New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa
May 23 2006
New Haka for Warriors of the Sky
A new haka is to be unveiled to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).
The haka about the ‘warriors of the sky’ was written by members of the RNZAF and consists of 36 actions.
The kaupapa (story) for the haka, focuses on the past, present and future of the Air Force and draws inspiration from
the RNZAF’s three Victoria Cross winners.
The haka is for all members of the Air Force, with both men and women eligible to perform it.
A training pack, including a DVD will be sent to each Air Force base, so members of the RNZAF can learn the words and
movements. It will also include a CD explaining
A DVD with a step-by-step guide to the new Haka will be sent to each Air Force Bases so personnel can learn the words
and movements.
“The new Haka doesn’t establish a Maori identity in the Air Force – we already have that – but rather, it augments and
strengthens our existing identity,’ says Flight Sergeant George Mana, a member of the steering committee that developed
the guide.
ENDS