Engineers' haka, 1955

This mockhaka was carried out by engineering students at Auckland University in 1955. The students appear to be carrying mock taiaha and wearing grass skirts instead ofpiupiu. Over the years this performance became a tradition, and by the 1980s it had degenerated to the stage where engineers were writing swear words and drawing sexual organs on their bodies. Māori students at Auckland University tried to have thehaka stopped by going through formal channels, but to no avail. This came to a head in 1979 when a group of Māori students physically confronted the engineering students in what became known as theHaka Party Incident. The group who confronted the engineers were arrested and charged with a number of offences, and are known as HeTaua.

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