Editorial: Leave the haka alone

The message is pretty clear. Of the five people we asked for yesterday's Street View not one thought the haka was becoming devalued through overuse.

The question arose because Springboks coach Peter de Villiers, after visiting Opotaka Marae, where the Ka Mate haka was composed, opined that people had become so used to the haka it had lost its intensity and respect.

He said after seeing the Tuwharetoa welcome, the haka had new meaning for him.

Maybe, but why should that mean it loses value on the rugby field?

This region is known for its supreme haka talent - how does de Villiers' suggestion go down here?

Ngati Rangiwewehi kapa haka group leader Daniel Vaka disagrees with the South African coach. He says the haka has mana and it won't be devalued by overuse.

Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell also disagrees, and adds that flash mob haka are a welcome development.

I suspect de Villiers, while respecting the origins of the haka, is falling into the same old criticism that has always been levelled at the All Blacks' pre-game ritual, often by opposing coaches. They're just jealous. They know they're going to get beaten, so they snipe at our haka.

You might agree with de Villiers, but I still enjoy, and get chills, seeing the ABs perform the challenge. Without fail it ups the intensity of the occasion, whether it's a big match or a potential walkover.

Listen to the fans in the stand at the end of each haka - does it sound like they're over it already? No.

Different nations have different ways of amping up their teams. For New Zealand and some other Pacific nations there's the respective challenges, for England crowds it's Swing Low, while French crowds may chant "Allez les Bleus". Why would you want to take the colour out of the spectacle?

Leave our haka alone.