Hundreds of students perform emotional haka dance at popular teacher’s funeral

Hundreds of pupils have paid tribute to their teacher with a powerful haka at his funeral.

At Tamatea’s funeral, the entire school gathered together to honor their teacher with a traditional Maori dance called the Haka.

The haka has become renowned internationally due to its prominence in rugby union football, where it is performed as a war cry before matches played by New Zealand’s teams.

“This was a very emotional and powerful performance”, the school wrote on its Facebook page.

Mr Tamatea’s funeral in the school’s hall was also streamed online.

Palmerston North Boys’ High School rector David Bovey told ONE News: “It was absolutely spine-tingling” witnessing the haka. “We are very conscious that Mr. Tamatea’s passing will be hard for many young men with whom he has had a close association as either a teacher, coach, manager or camp leader, as well as for many of our teachers who have known him for a long period of time”.

As the hearse carrying Tamatea’s coffin pulled into the school grounds, it was welcomed with a haka, performed by the approximately 1700 pupils who attend the school.