so...i hear the distant echoes of one bemoaning the use of the Haka (Ka Mate) by foreigners. Even though its quite late news, it just entered the station of registration. So there is some american movie about an- of course- american rugby team (called forever strong), who happens to perform the haka before they play. At first, i was thinking "American...New Zealand Haka...wha...why? I don't really sense a connection..." of course, maybe it is used for its symbolic representations- fearlessness, i will defeat yo'... ect.
Right, and of course, early on this century, there was a maori tribe (Ngati Toa(?) that, thankfully, unsuccesfully tried to TRADEMARK the haka (the man who wrote it was from their tribe). And again, they're trying to place dibs on ownership (They also re-applied for a hearing so they could trademark it recently again...).
I'm actually not too sure what to think on the Americans using the Haka, because apparantly the team was based off a team that actually existed and did the haka at games a long while back, and its kinda like an exspansion of kiwiana in the world...albeit by americans...so...@_@ maybe they should have asked? I'm not too settled on it. But what i think is that is ridiculous that anyone would attempt (and again!) to trademark the haka in which they could reap 1.5 million for its use (like from the all blacks). I mean, what the heck man, the Haka belongs to all New Zealanders, it is a mark, a part of every new zealanders heritage- especially to maoris who does not belong to that iwi. Spokesperson from the tribe said: "All we ask for is some fairness, even a koha or scholarships or something that will come back feasibly to the iwi."
also...that "Maori should be able to use intellectual property rights to protect their culture so they don't have to endure the further bastardisation of their culture. "
IMHO. it makes the people in this iwi come off as greedy people. How can it be "It's just only between us, but if they want it, they can- if they talk to us and give us some money- it'd be fine". I don't think a koha should be given to the iwi of the man who wrote this, cause he's also a "New Zealander".
p.s. also, i don't think the tribe will go anywhere with their trademarking, cause apparantly intellectual copyright expires 50 years after death, and cause its pretty much ridiculous. i think there was also some robbie william thing over how he had some maori tattoo art done, and some Maoris were a bit angry over it...
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Hmmm, not sure what to think about this one... Of course I don't think the haka should be trademarked, I would agree that it belongs to all of us as New Zealanders and not to one particular iwi.
However, I do sympathise with his statement about the "bastardisation" of Maori culture, especially with that news about the haka being used in that American movie. It would be great if the haka was used in a way that would celebrate Maori culture and share it around the world.
Sadly, what mostly happens with things from other cultures that become popular in the Western world is they become appropriated for Western audiences: homogenised, whitewashed. Think of those "Tiki Russian Dolls" that were in the paper a while ago.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that we do need SOME ownership of our culture, incase some Americanan company or whatever says, hey, the Haka is cool, let's use it to sell stuff! And maybe then little children will start going as Maori warriors at Halloween, without understanding the history or significance of the culture they are appropriating.
ah."little children will start going as Maori warriors at Halloween"
that'll be no good!!I thus agree with your "some ownership" of our culture.
Ooh, Jo, if you want to read more about Halloween and racism, read here: http://www.racialicious.com/2008/10/30/take-back-the-halloween/
I basically stole my whole argument from here.
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