<P> Although the use of haka by the All Blacks rugby union team and the New Zealand rugby league team has made one type of haka familiar, it has led to misconceptions . Most haka are performed by men . There are however some haka which are performed predominantly by women--one of the most well - known being the Ngāti Porou haka "Ka Panapana". </P> <P> In modern times, various haka have been composed to be performed by women and even children . Haka are performed for various reasons: for welcoming distinguished guests, or to acknowledge great achievements, occasions or funerals . </P> <P> War haka (peruperu) were originally performed by warriors before a battle, proclaiming their strength and prowess in order to intimidate the opposition . Today, haka constitute an integral part of formal or official welcome ceremonies for distinguished visitors or foreign dignitaries, serving to impart a sense of the importance of the occasion . </P> <P> Various actions are employed in the course of a performance, including facial contortions such as showing the whites of the eyes and poking out the tongue, and a wide variety of vigorous body actions such as slapping the hands against the body and stomping of the feet . As well as chanted words, a variety of cries and grunts are used . Haka may be understood as a kind of symphony in which the different parts of the body represent many instruments . The hands, arms, legs, feet, voice, eyes, tongue and the body as a whole combine to express courage, annoyance, joy or other feelings relevant to the purpose of the occasion . </P>

When is the haka used in nz society