Some New Zealanders are up in arms over a television commercial in Italy which shows black-clad Italian women doing an All Black Haka.

The commercial - used to advertise Fiats - comes from the Turin office of ad agency Leo Burnett, and depicts the women doing the 'Ka Mate Ka Mate' version of the All Black haka beside a black car, with a background noise of a crowd cheering.

New Zealand diplomats told the producers that the ad is culturally insensitive to Maori people - and that the Haka is meant exclusively for men.

As one of the women drives off in the car, the ad ends with a boy sitting in the back poking out his tongue - which is a sign of aggression in Maori folklore, and is a part of the traditional end to the 'Ka Mate' Haka.

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman Brad Tattersfield said diplomats had asked the advertising company to use a Maori group instead or a Haka composed for women.

"However, the advertising company indicated they were proceeding despite this advice," he said.

Article from Planet Rugby

What does the All Black Haka actually mean?

From the Stuffucanuse.com blog.

To read an explanation of the words click on the link above.

The Words of Ka Mate
Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!
I die! I die! I live! I live!

Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!
I die! I die! I live! I live!

Tenei te tangata puhuru huru
This is the hairy man

Nana nei i tiki mai
Who fetched the Sun

Whakawhiti te ra
And caused it to shine again

A upa … ne! ka upa … ne!
One upward step! Another upward step!

A upane kaupane whiti te ra!
An upward step, another.. the Sun shines !!!

Also in the new has been the Infamous Handbag Haka created by the Australian media

Click on Stuff.co.nz to see the news item featuring the Handbag Haka.

There are many All Black Hakas to watch in video on YouTube