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National | England

Ngāti Toa Rangatira insulted by Hakarena

The 2015 Rugby World Cup kicks off in two days and the haka is yet again at the centre of another viral video circulating on the internet.

Led by former England rugby captain Matt Dawson, this video posted on UK clothing store Jacamo's Facebook page show players doing the haka to the macarena with the hashtag #hakarena.

But it's not the first time the haka has been misused.  Like an animated video of ginger bread men doing the haka, or most recently, a video of Indians doing the pūkana.

But Ngāti Toa Rangatira are particularly insulted because a well-known former captain is endorsing the hakarena.

Matiu Rei says, “This video is disrespectful and it's belittling our cultural performance, the All Blacks and the Māori people.”

Jacamo posted a comment to their Facebook page saying, "We'd just like to say that we think the haka is awesome!  In no way are we trying to disrespect it."

Rei says, “I feel for New Zealanders, not just Māori.  I feel sorry for everyone that has to watch this.”

No one from Jacamo in Manchester was available to talk to Te Kāea today, but Ngāti Toa hope that the world hear this warning and not disrespect the haka.