What Is the Haka?
The haka is a Māori posture dance with chanted words, performed for many occasions, not only war. What kapa haka is, and where to see haka in Rotorua and Auckland (Oct 2026).
The haka is a Māori dance performed with chanted words, strong posture and expression. It is often called a war dance, but haka were and are performed for many occasions: to welcome guests, to open a meeting house, to honour ancestors or to mourn the dead. You see haka as part of kapa haka, the Māori performing arts. The shortest way to see one in Rotorua is the cultural performance at Whakarewarewa, the living Māori village, about 30 minutes, rated 4.7 from 237 reviews and from US$17 a person (checked October 2026).
Haka and kapa haka
Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, explains kapa haka as a group standing in rows (kapa) to perform Māori dances (haka) accompanied by sung or chanted words. A kapa haka performance is more than the haka: it includes waiata (songs), poi, mōteatea (traditional chant) and, often, the karanga and formal speech of a welcome.
There are many kinds of haka, each right for a different occasion. Some were war haka (peruperu), others belong to welcomes, celebrations and funerals. The pūkana (widened eyes) and whētero (protruding tongue) are expressions used in haka of every kind; in war haka they were meant to intimidate an opponent. When you see a haka at a cultural evening, it is part of how the hosts welcome and entertain their visitors.
Where to see a haka
| Where | What is in it | Length | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whakarewarewa cultural performance | Songs, dancing, haka, poi and stick games | About 30 minutes | US$17 | 4.7 (237) |
| Te Puia, Te Rā with the performance | Pōhiri, waiata, mōteatea, poi and haka, after a guided valley walk | About 2 hours | US$81 | 4.8 (230) |
| Mitai Māori Village | Haka, waiata, mōteatea and poi in a full evening with a hāngī | About 3 hours | US$102 | 4.7 (4,313) |
| Living Taonga, Auckland Museum | Waiata, poi, storytelling and the origins of the haka | With museum entry | US$38 | 4.7 (219) |
On a phone, swipe the table sideways for the prices and ratings.
Prices, ratings and review counts from GetYourGuide, checked October 2026. Prices are per person in US dollars.
The performance at Whakarewarewa is the performance only; the village tour is a separate booking, covered in Māori village tours.
See performance times at Whakarewarewa →
Which one, by your time
Whakarewarewa performance
Songs, poi, stick games and the haka in the living village.
Check times →Te Puia, Te Rā with the performance
The valley walk, Pōhutu Geyser and the kiwi, then the performance in the meeting house.
See Te Rā →Living Taonga, Auckland Museum
The performance and the story of the haka, then the museum's galleries.
See Living Taonga →Prices and ratings from GetYourGuide, checked October 2026; operators change prices, so treat them as a guide, not a quote.
Kapa haka and the kinds of haka after Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Performance content, lengths, prices and ratings from the GetYourGuide listings (434145, 997210, 115647, 127241), read in US dollars on 28 October 2026.
A Cultural Performance at Whakarewarewa
A live performance of traditional songs and dancing at Whakarewarewa, the living Māori village in Rotorua, including the haka, poi and stick games. About 30 minutes, as listed in October 2026, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check Performance Times