Origin of the Haka

According to Maori ethos, Tama-nui-to-ra, the Sun God, had two wives, Hine-raumati, the Summer maid, and Hine takurua, the Winter maid. The child born to him and Hine-raumati was Tane-rore, who is credited with the origin of the dance. Tane-rore is the trembling of the air as seen on the hot days of summer, and represented by the quivering of the hands in the dance.

Haka is the generic name for all Maori dance. Today, haka is defined as that part of the Maori dance repertoire where the men are to the fore with the women lending vocal support in the rear. Most haka seen today are haka taparahi, haka without weapons.

More than any aspect of Maori culture, this complex dance is an expression of the passion, vigour and identity of the race. Haka is not merely a past time of the Maori but was also a custom of high social importance in the welcoming and entertainment of visitors. Tribal reputation rose and fell on their ability to perform the haka (Hamana Mahuika)

Haka reflected the concerns and issues of the time, of defiance and protest, of factual occurrences and events at any given time

Haka History

The centrality of the haka within All Black rugby tradition is not a recent development. Since the original "All Black" team of "New Zealand Natives" led by Joseph Warbrick the haka has been closely associated with New Zealand rugby. Its mystique has evolved along with the fierce determination, commitment and high level skill which has been the hallmark of New Zealand's National game.

The haka adds a unique component, derived from the indigenous Maori of New Zealand, and which aligns with the wider Polynesian cultures of the Pacific.

The All Blacks perform the haka with precision and intensity which underpin the All Black approach.

Samoa edge Tonga

Samoa came away from Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku'alofa with a hard-earned 20-15 win against Tonga in front of 4,000 fans.

Tonga had led 9-0 after 30 minutes with three penalties to fly half Pierre Hola, before Samoa scrum half Uale Mai scored the only try of the first half, converted by full back Gavin Williams, to bring the score back to 9-7.

With Hola replaced at the start of the second half, Vungakoto Lilo kicked a penalty to extend Tonga’s lead to 12-7.

After a raft of substitutions on the hour mark, wing David Lemi scored a try for Samoa, again converted by Williams, to haul the away team into a two-point advantage.

Lilo edged Tonga ahead with a penalty on 67 minutes before Williams kicked two late penalties to grab the victory for Samoa.

NZ Maori swamp Japan in second half

A withering third quarter which produced three tries, two of them to wing Hosea Gear finally quelled some sterling Japan resistance to set up a 65-22 win for the New Zealand Maori in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup game played at Napier's McLean Park on Saturday.

NZ Maori has won four from four and will play the tournament final against Australia in Sydney next week.

It was a compelling display from the Maori who ran in 10 tries while first five-eighths Callum Bruce scored 25 points in what was the first clash between the side and Japan.

The under-rated visitors had gone to the break with a 22-17 lead but Gear drove over for a try after a concentrated forwards build-up, then moment later, after 55 minutes, he latched onto a good pass from prop Jacob Ellison after Japan fullback Shaun Webb lost the ball placing it after being tackled.

Gear switched into overdrive, sidestepped in field and raced 45m to touch down under the goal posts.

The wave then broke over the Japanese as the Maori stormed back from the re-start before replacement fullback Dwayne Sweeney scored wide out to be followed moments later by Gear touching down for his hat-trick.

In just over 20 minutes the score had ballooned to 48-22.

Japan scored first through a penalty goal after six minutes to first five-eighths James Arlidge, but then conceded two tries in four minutes as firstly wing Zar Lawrence took advantage of a solid break by halfback Piri Weepu which was well continued by lock Ross Filipo.

He bounced off defenders and fed Lawrence in for the try, then No.8 Liam Messam got away with joining from the side of a maul to steal ball and set up the chance which Bruce capitalised on to score.

Japan wasn't put off however, and struck with deadly effect when it scored two tries in three minutes.

The first came after an all in assault which resulted in a penalty five metres out from the Maori line when Weepu was ruled offside. But Japan opted for a scrum and it was fullback Bryce Robins who scored after a good thrust by replacement centre Shaun Webb.

Then from a Maori lineout throw near halfway which was not secured, Japan flanker Hare Makiri tidied up and Arlidge held the ball long enough to create space further out and that was sufficient for left win Christian Loamanu to go over in the corner. Arlidge added a superb conversion from the sideline to give Japan a 15-12 lead.

The Maori regained the lead when No.8 Liam Messam showed he knew how to create space as well after a prolonged buildup on attack. The ball was moved wide and Messam drew the defence in the centres to create just enough space for second five-eighths Tamati Ellison to go over in the corner.

But then the try of the half came just on halftime when blindside flanker Luke Thompson crossed after Webb fielded the a ball which missed touch. He fed infield and it was Robins who ran straight and hard up the centre of the field to split the defence and feed the well-placed Thompson. Arlidge's conversion gave Japan a 22-17 lead at the break.

As the Maori reserves were ushered on there appeared no let-up in the enthusiasm of the Maori and they ran rampant with the Waldrom brothers Scott and Thomas electrifying the continuity in the loose and setting up late tries for Lawrence and Bruce, each scoring their second tries of the game while a last-minute turnover resulted in a try for centre Jason Kawau.

Scorers: NZ Maori 65 (Hosea Gear 3, Zar Lawrence 2, Callum Bruce 2, Tamati Ellison, Dwayne Sweeney, Jason Kawau tries; Bruce 6 con, pen) Japan 22 (Bryce Robins, Christian Loamanu, Luke Thompson tries; James Arlidge 2 con, pen). HT: 17-22

Our little Fish

Ari at swim lessons.
Ari and Daddy at Cherry Hills.




Our little diver. No fear of water at all.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Not many people got to see our little angel as a baby. Here is a small clip of a little thing I put together on a sleepless night when I was desperately missing my girls!

All Blacks depth pays big dividend

England has been sent home with a 44-12 thrashing by the superior class of the All Blacks at AMI Stadium on Saturday night.

Clinical finishing was the difference between the two sides, especially in the first half as possession was shared 50/50 but the All Blacks made theirs count to lead 20-0.

Starting with a penalty in the first minute, first five-eighth Dan Carter laid on another masterclass and once again exposed England's brittle defence.

The tourists switched their No.10 and 12 stocks but it made little difference when Carter waltzed through and fed centre Richard Kahui on the angle for a try just 14 minutes into a dream debut.

Carter added another penalty to make it 13-0, then crossed for a deserved five-pointer to extend it by another seven.

England's defence was embarrassed once more as halfback Andrew Ellis' cut-out ball found Carter in miles of space for an easy stroll to the line.

Carter had almost scored seconds earlier when held up off a deft chip and regather.

The only concern came as both captain Richie McCaw and Ali Williams left the field in the first half with ankle injuries, McCaw's seeming particularly serious.

Conversely, the tourists squandered chances, consistently infringed at the breakdown and were their own worst enemies.

Halfback Danny Care put in a needless chip kick when 10m out early on, wing Tom Varndell should've scored in the corner but was bundled out by Leon MacDonald and Mathew Tait's butter fingers prevented him diving on an Ellis error close to the line.

It didn't get any better straight after the break when replacement Ollie Barkley missed a simple chance to put England on the board, then Carter made no mistake with one of his own.

Care took it upon himself to put England back in the contest and did so when he took a quick tap, ran across field and managed to squeeze through a gap at the corner to score his first Test try and narrow the gap to 23-7.

Almost immediately, the All Blacks hit back and delivered a hammer blow to England's temporarily positive demeanour.

Carter found wing Sitiveni Sivivatu back on the angle and he burst through more feeble English defence then sent second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu next to the posts.
England was left forced to play with 14 men as centre Mike Tindall was given a yellow card for killing the ball near his own line.

The All Blacks made it count straight away as Sione Lauaki scored their fourth try by picking off the back of a scrum and powering through for a 37-7 scoreline.

A borderline forward pass by wing Rudi Wulf, who was quiet on debut, led to England's second as Care was again involved and freed up Varndell to score on his opposite side with just over 10 minutes to go.

Two more contentious calls followed as firstly Sivivatu was denied by another supposed forward pass then Adam Thomson's dot-down was denied by a baffling ruling that Keven Mealamu had taken Varndell out in the air.

But Jimmy Cowan wasn't to be denied in the final minute as he wriggled over to complete the 44-12 hiding and send England back north with its tail between its legs.

It was a promising All Black performance leading into next month Tri Nations opener, although South Africa and Australia will be made of sterner stuff than the limp English.

New Zealand 44 (Richard Kahui, Dan Carter, Ma'a Nonu, Sione Lauaki, Jimmy Cowan tries; Carter 4 con, 3 pen; Stephen Donald con) England 12 (Danny Care, Tom Varndell tries; Olly Barkley con). HT: 20-0

Highland Rugby

Tonga / New Zealand Tour

The young men who comprise the Highland Rugby club are presented this summer with a marvelous opportunity. For 33 years, we have been the premier High School rugby program in the United States. Our club currently has a membership of diverse young men representing 13 schools from around the Salt Lake Valley. Some of our successes include:

• 17 National Titles in 23 years
• A lifetime record of 370-9
• 33 straight Utah titles (we have never lost an in-state game)
• 3^rd place finish in the World High School Championships, the only one of its kind ever held

In addition, a major motion picture, Forever Strong, to be released this fall, has been made about our program and the positive impact it has upon the lives of our players.

Our program has been fortunate enough to have four very special teams who we felt were worthy of competing at the highest level throughout the world, on an international stage. The team has toured New Zealand, Australia, and Africa with great success, the last of those tours coming in 1998. We feel that this year’s team is one of those special groups of young men who are both capable and deserving of competing at the pinnacle of their sport.

The opportunity we have before us is an intensive 20-day tour of Tonga and New Zealand. History has a tendency to repeat itself, and this undertaking is no exception. In 1979 we were the first American high school rugby team to play in New Zealand, and this year we have the opportunity to be the first American high school rugby team to compete in the Kingdom of Tonga. On this tour, we will be competing against high-level teams in both countries. Our 2^nd game in Tonga will be against Liahona, the defending Tongan Champion. In New Zealand, widely considered to be the home of the best rugby in the world, we will be playing Church College, a perennial power in NZ rugby. In addition to four quality matches we will be exposed to a cultural experience most people our age can only dream of.

"More important than building championship teams is building championship boys" Larry Gelwix, Head Coach/Founder Highland Rugby

New Zealand Maori have made it three out of three in the Pacific Nations Cup with a hard-fought 17-6 win over Samoa in Hamilton on Saturday.

Chiefs centre Callum Bruce opened the scoring after 12 minutes with a penalty when the Samoans were penalised for obstruction at a line-out.

A similar penalty offence - this one actually awarded for coming in on the side - a few minutes later saw Samoan lock Chad Slade sent to the bin for ten minutes.

The Samoans nearly made it through the ten minutes unscathed, but Bruce's grubber-kick through the defence and touchdown ensured the visitors paid the price for their indiscretions.

Piri Weepu landed the killer blow for the Maori just before half-time, capitalising on good work from Liam Messam and Thomas Waldrom to score his side's second.

Samoa regrouped and redoubled their efforts in the second half, and two penalties from full-back Gavin Williams made the score 14-6 by the hour, but there was no change to be found from the Maori defence.

The scorers:

For the NZ Maori:
Tries: Bruce, Weepu
Cons: Bruce 2
Pen: Bruce

For Samoa:
Pens: Williams 2

Yellow cards: Slade (Samoa, 21), Tuilagi (Samoa, 75)

New Zealand Maori: 15 Dwayne Sweeney, 14 Shannon Paku, 13 Tim Bateman, 12 Tamati Ellison (co-captain), 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Callum Bruce, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam (co-captain), 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Ross Filipo, 3 Bronson Murray, 2Hikawera Elliot, 1 Keith Cameron.
Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Hoani MacDonald, 19 Scott Waldrom, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Jason Kawau, 22 Zar Lawrence.

Samoa: 15 Gavin Williams, 14 Esera Lauina, 13 Henry Faafili, 12 Anitele'a Tuilagi, 11 David Lemi, 10 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 9 Junior Poluleuligaga, 8 George Stowers, 7 Semo Sititi, 6 Daniel Leo, 5 Chad Slade, 4 Filipo Levi (C), 3 Census Johnston, 2 Loleni Tafunai, 1 James Johnston.
Replacements: 16 Simon Lemalu, 17 Jeremiah Fatialofa, 18 Kane Thompson, 19 Alafoti Faosilivia, 20 Uale Mai, 21 Roger Warren, 22 Gasolo Salima.

Referee: Ian Smith (Australia).

Narnia

I just finished The Chronicle's of Narnia! Very rich in Gospel and Christian symbolism. I am now going to re-read Lewis other books: Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain, The Great Divorce and The Screw Tape Letters. Updates to follow.

onTouch today

Cool Design Website

Dieline

This is kinda cool. I assume you know who this is. But look from a distance and tell me who it becomes.

Hula Lessons

Daddy's Little Gymnast

Ari at her Gymnastics meet!

"There is a marked difference between the introspection that focuses on ‘How did I do?’ and the introspection that asks, ‘Did I do enough?’" ~ Neal A. Maxwell