Napier school haka gets global hits

A video of the haka for retiring Napier Boys' High principal Ross Brown and his wife Anne Millward-Brown has gone viral

A whole-school haka farewelling Napier Boys' High School principal Ross Brown and his wife Anne Millward-Brown has been viewed nearly 300,000 times.

At a student-led assembly the couple spontaneously danced on stage when a student sang Mr Brown's favourite song, Moondance, before Hawke's Bay's biggest school erupted in a haka outside at the end of assembly.

The couple are not due to leave until the end of the year but seniors are due to depart earlier for study break before exams.

The 1200 students were led by head boy Jack Smith-Ballingall in a stirring rendition of Ngati Kahungunu haka Tika Tonu.

A video posted on Facebook by the school's international students has gone worldwide.
"This is a massive mark of respect to an individual, especially a teacher or headmaster.

Imagine getting this on your last day at work, would get goosebumps ..." wrote Darrel Thomson of Perth.

"Love NZ embracing culture. Imagine white Australians performing an indigenous dance," wrote Adam Radovanovic.

Jackie Hamilton Villeneuve commented from Canada: "Very moving - he must have been a cool guy."

Old boy Alex Lawson commented from Melbourne.

"Will be sadly missed - Mr Brown top man to lead an awesome school," he said.

Sergei Turnbull of Napier said it was a great school led by a great principal.

"I still remember my first handshake with him as a Year 9 student."

Rebecca McCormick shared the video in the United States.

"I ran across this video while searching for #thisishowitsdone, the tag line for Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, celebrating their 50th anniversary tonight at The Beard House in NYC," she said.

"Although the video has absolutely nothing to do with me, it's a cool way to get pumped up for a travel day!"