This article swings at and misses its targets; the journalist wants to express his admiration for what he reads as diversity and multicultural identity in New Zealand. But he fails to get out of the gate cleanly; he does not line up key terms to ensure that he and readers are on the same page when, for instance, “race” is evoked. For that reason, the absence of interrogation into historical relationships in the country is not surprising. One can only wish for a consideration of the Wellington (or Auckland) Street in this article. . . I guess the posted comments are telling.
There is something going on with haka performances. What do those who perform haka think they’re doing? What do various audiences see when they watch haka dances? Are they watching masquerade? Watching the visualization of a national anthem as movement and chanting? Is there a collective experience?
ACRAH 