It's rare to see a video so powerful as the one below…
"Haka" is used throughout New Zealand by many different groups of people, as an outward display of thoughts and feelings. This video shows the soldiers of 2/1 RNZIR Battalion performing their Unit's haka. Together, the soldiers acknowledge their fallen comrades as their bodies are driven onto the Unit's parade ground. The soldiers reveal their inner warriors, primal and full of strength and energy. In the last few moments, however, the soldiers take a sudden moment of silence — a stark difference from the wildness that came before. It's almost as if you can feel their pain and sadness.
The last time I was so moved by a show of respect to a soldier, it was the video featuring Delta baggage handlers performing a ceremony on the tarmac. They may honor fallen soldiers differently in New Zealand, but the results are just as impactful.
Haka, as you'll see, is a chant with actions. It is used by indigenous people of New Zealand for a wide variety of reasons, from an expression of contempt to an acknowledge of feats and achievements. From a welcome to a farewell.
If this video surprised and touched you, please SHARE it with your friends on Facebook.
