What New Zealand is known for!!

The first thing that the country is known for is their very unique greeting. The Maoris have a very distinct greeting that involves the 2 parties to rub their noses with each other. There is a word for this, and it is called Hongi. This means the Sharing of breath. 

The second thing New Zealand is known for is their Rugby team. The All Blacks are New Zealand’s number one national rugby side and have rated amongst the best in the world for well over 100 years. Their name and distinctive all-black playing strip have become well known to rugby and non-rugby fans worldwide.

The first New Zealand team was selected in 1884, for a tour to New South Wales. The team played its first match at home, against a Wellington XV, before recording eight wins in eight matches in Australia. Otago prop James Allan, who played eight matches for the 1884 team, has been immortalised as All Black No 1.

However what is more familiar to the whole world would be the All Black’s Haka. Their traditional Maori war dance is performed before every game in front of the opponents. 

The words of the Haka goes as follows: 

The words in Orange are the Direct translation of the Haka, however the words in Grey is the story behind the haka

KA MATE!                  KA MATE!
It is death!                     It is death!
We were at war              
KA ORA!                   KA ORA!
It is life!                      It is life!
But now there is peace.                
KA MATE!                  KA MATE!
We're going to die!              We're going to die!
We thought we were all going to die
KA ORA!                   KA ORA!
We're going to live!             We're going to live!
but now we are safe
TENEI  TE  TANGATA        PU-HURU-HURU
This is the  man,                so hairy
because our leader, so strong and masculine,
NANA  NEI  I  TIKI  MAI,  WHAKAWHITI  TE  RA!
who               fetched,  and  made shine     the  sun! 
has unified us and brought back the sunny days of peace!
UPANE!                    KA UPANE!
Together!                       Keep together!
We are all working in harmony, side by side, 
HUPANE!                  KAUPANE! 
Up the step!                    A second step!
making steady progress
WHITI   TE    RA!         HI!
Out comes the    sun!           Ahh!
to prolong these sunny days of peace.

Here is a Video of why the Haka is so intimidating to the opponents:

However over the years, different variations of the Haka has surfaced. Below is the Haka known as the Cut-Throat Haka. This is due to the last action, at which they pull their finger across their neck in a silting action. this is not to be mistaken as a sign of killing their enemy, but as a sign that if they were to go back home anything else by a victor, their throats will be slit by their Chief.