Miss New Zealand Slammed For Haka At Miss World Competition

Publish Date
Monday, 21 December 2015, 8:53AM
Haka - Miss World New Zealand

Learning this haka has made me appreciate so much more what it means to be a New Zealander. Our culture and our heritage is beautiful and it's been a privilege to learn more about myself and where I come from.Thank you Kereama Te Ua and Erina Morehu for everything you have taught me.#ProudlyNZ #TeamNZ #ProudlyAotearoa距离在中国三亚美丽之冠剧院举行的2015世界小姐总决赛还有2天.2 days until the final of Miss World at the Beauty Crown Grand Theatre in Sanya, China.

Posted by Miss World - New Zealand on Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Miss World New Zealand Deborah Lambie, 24, says she is proud of her haka at the Miss World competition in China despite the performance receiving negative reviews.

The beauty queen placed 15th among the 117 contestants at the competition.

Miss Lambie performed a haka in the talent category.

A video of the haka on her Facebook page received several negative comments.

One person described it as "disgraceful and offensive" and said a performance involving a waiata and poi would have been more suitable.

Another person told Miss Lambie to "learn the role of our wahine".

She added: "You could of done a karanga [call out] or done a haka women style instead of trying to be a man. Some of us women take mana wahine too far. I don't need to perform like a man to be mana wahine."

And someone added that her performance was "more of an insult" and said her "tutors are idiots for letting her do that. Big thumbs down to them."

Other people applauded her haka.

Miss Lambie said the response to the haka in China was fantastic.

"People love New Zealand and love this special part of our culture."

She learned the haka from Kereama Te Ua, a lecturer in Maori Performing Arts at Whitireia Performance Centre in Wellington.

Deborah Lambie with her Miss New Zealand crown.

 

- Otago Daily Times

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