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Haka in Stuttgart (beginning of May): incomprehension in New Zealand
Photo: DER SPIEGEL
Rhythmic stamping, sticking out your tongue and clapping your thighs against the "Corona dictatorship": In the so-called hygiene demos of the past few months, there were not only bizarre excesses and costumes but also a hook from "lateral thinking 711" followers, filmed by SPIEGEL TV.
The scene took place in Stuttgart in May, and in the wake of the Berlin demos and a "best of" video, it even made it to New Zealand - and caused quite a stir there.
The short clip made the rounds on TVNZ and TV3, in the "New Zealand Herald", on Instagram and Reddit.
Four men and women in red T-shirts with the words: "I am beautiful, I am whole, I am wild, I am free" and: "The fire of love burns in me".
Stephan Bergmann, meanwhile spokesman for the demo group "lateral thinking 711", hits his chest and shouts "Te waka!"
(the canoe).
The traditional ritual of New Zealand's natives is often incorrectly described as a "war dance" and is used in a wide variety of ways at ceremonial greetings, celebrations, funerals and the rugby tournaments of the All Blacks.
It has a deep spiritual meaning.
In Germany the Haka is popular in the New Age and Life Coach scene, where it is mostly spread without the approval of the tribes, from whose ancestors the words and movements come.
After the performance, Bergmann speaks of the power of the earth and fire that the Haka brings.
When asked whether that would also help against Corona, he said it would do something against "the fake".
People who are familiar with the background of the haka, however, tend to get angry from the Stuttgart show of strength.
"It's corruption," said Karaitiana Taiuru, Christchurch Maori Culture Advisor.
"Haka have not traditionally been used to drive away disease or evil spirits."
The Haka "Tōia Mai", which was presented in Stuttgart, is also protected by copyright in New Zealand and must be attributed to the Ngati Toa tribe during presentations.
Safe distance and lockdowns
Aside from the cultural appropriation, the political message is also offensive, Taiuru said.
New Zealand has the pandemic under control relatively well with tough measures by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
"I find it offensive that our cultural symbol is being used to promote a cause New Zealand doesn't believe in," says Taiuru.
"As the 'Team of the Five Million' we keep a safe distance and lockdowns. This pandemic is killing more indigenous people than other ethnic groups."
A statistical study recently published by the University of Canterbury shows that the risk of dying from Covid-19 is 50 percent higher for Maori than for non-Maori.
In the densely populated areas of the Maori in northern New Zealand, vigilante groups and roadside checks were set up to provide additional protection when the pandemic broke out.
Designer Johnson Witehira, whose contemporary Maori art paves Wellington's inner city, is bothered by the Stuttgart Haka for the same reasons: "The last thing we need are these clowns who use our culture for their inappropriate protest."
The fact that the Haka is used for commercial or ideological purposes around the world is always rejected in New Zealand and often leads to "intellectual property" lawsuits.
The German Arag insurance company filmed a haka for cinema spots in 2017 and was approached for the "culture robbery".
French lawyers were harshly criticized in January when they protested pension reforms with a haka parody.
The latest performance in Germany was mainly ridiculed on social media sites in New Zealand: "You don't need masks, the Haka will protect you," according to a Facebook comment.
in another: "Can someone please tell you that New Zealand's Corona success is not based on the Haka?"
"It doesn't make any sense"
In addition, Stephan Bergmann is criticized for earlier Facebook posts with which he is said to have warned against a "mixture of races".
When asked about this, he told SPIEGEL TV at the Berlin demo last weekend that he had not found the posts or that he had quoted other people.
His message is relatively clear, "that we have a heart for people".
He is personally traveling all over the world.
"I have an incredible number of friends and acquaintances and even family members from different continents."
That he would warn against it is an interpretation of the "Tagesspiegel" and does not correspond to his truth in life.
So far, he has left a request by email unanswered.
At the Stuttgart demo in May, he also defended a blogger known as a right-wing extremist and said that he didn't care who had thought what so far, the days of division were over.
In Berlin he said that everyone is welcomed, that he is walking the path of the heart.
International Maori experts such as the Bochum historian Dr.
Rebecca Burke outraged.
"It's really bad if someone with this line of thought declares war on the state via haka," said Burke.
The Haka video was sent to her three times.
Your reaction: "What the fuck - what are these people doing?"
Burke works closely with Kane Harnett-Mutu.
The New Zealand lawyer from the Nghati Kahu tribe is one of the few recognized Haka trainers in Europe and lives in Copenhagen.
He also finds the Stuttgart appearance "absurd": "You are doing a ritual that is not German and belongs to people who you apparently consider to be inferior. It makes no sense."
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