Women’s World Cup 2023; why mocking the haka wasn’t a good move for the Spanish Women’s team

The opening fixture of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, being held in Australia and New Zealand, has kicked off this morning yet before even the opening ceremony, there has been controversy regarding one team in particular - Spain. It emerged that the women’s football team were caught on video “mocking” the haka - a tradition steeped in Māori heritage.

The players were accused of being disrespectful to Maori culture over the video, which has since been deleted, and the team captain, Ivana Andres, asked for "forgiveness for our mistakes" from the local Rangitane tribe at a traditional ceremony to welcome guests - known in Te Reo (Māori) as a “powhiri,” which iwi’s (tribes) often undertake to welcome visitors to their shores.

"We've only been a few days in Aotearoa New Zealand and there's still much to learn about this culture," she said in Spanish, with local media provided with a translation, while also presenting the iwi with a Spain football shirt from this year’s tournament.

“Their words came from the heart and there was an acknowledgement that they understood the haka is very precious, not only to Māori, but to all of Aotearoa," a spokesperson for the iwi said, and also stated that the results of the apology after the mocking of the powhiri “was a very good outcome.”

Spain begin their quest for the FIFA Women’s World Cup tomorrow, taking on Costa Rica in their opening group game, taking place at Wellington’s Regional Stadium in the North Island of Aotearoa (Te Reo for New Zealand.)

What is a haka?

The haka is a revered tradition belonging to the Māori people; an ancestral war dance, a haka encompasses vocal chants, rhythmic movements, and striking facial expressions, making it a compelling and culturally significant performance with deep roots in Māori history and identity.

Originating as a war preparation ritual, the haka was performed by Māori warriors before entering battle. This powerful display served to intimidate opponents, boost the morale of the performers, and showcase their unity and strength. Over time, the haka evolved into a multifaceted expression of Māori culture, extending its significance to various ceremonial occasions and cultural celebrations.

The haka's versatility means it can serve for diverse purposes in different contexts; in the case of the Spanish women’s football team, it was used to welcome them to Palmerston North, the current base, as distinguished guests, symbolising Māori hospitality and respect. 

There are a number of hakas within Maori culture, but the three most common ones seen are the Ka Mate, the Kapa O Pango and the Haka Taparahi. Rugby fans will be familiar with the Ka Mate, as it is the one usually used by the All Black before their games and was composed by Te Rauparaha, a Ngāti Toa chief, in the early 19th century.

However, there was controversy over the debut of the Kapa O Pango haka the All Blacks used in 2005 to reflect the team's modern identity; one of the movements in particular was a throat slit that was seen as incredibly aggressive in nature.