New Zealand soldiers perform the Haka

[YankeyMCC]

Hi, we have a few people from New Zealand here correct?

I saw this in today's BBC "Day in Pictures":



It seems very cool to me that the Soldiers in uniform would be willing and able to participate in this way. I'm curious though, what is the story behind this return and how did it come about that the soldiers also performed the dance? Have some Maori traditions become this intergrated into the general NZ culture as to make it into some military ceremonies or was this sort of a one time special occasion?

On edit: I realized I didn't post the caption that goes with the photo:

Maoris in traditional dress and New Zealand soldiers perform the Haka, as nearly 100 gallantry medals are returned to the country's army museum, nearly a year after they were stolen.

[MrCoffee]

1. They're fans of the All-Blacks

[PassingFair]

2. The one in the middle is CLEARLY doing a John McCain impersonation.

[Dogtown]

3. Martial Art

The Haka is a training form, and "pep rally", to instill courage, martial virtue, and to control pain and injury.