HAKA IMMERSION – TANU TE TOKI  – VIENNA , AUSTRIA

Toroa Aperahama & The Spirit of Haka In a world that often feels fragmented, fast, and disconnected, there are moments where people gather to remember something deeper. The Haka Immersion – TANU TE TOKI is one of those moments. At the heart of this gathering stands Toroa Aperahama, a Māori elder from Aotearoa (New Zealand), who carries forward the living tradition of Haka not as performance, but as a cultural practice rooted in community, responsibility, and connection. This immersion offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from him and to experience Haka in its authentic form — as a living expression of voice, presence, and collective power. The True Meaning of Haka Outside of Māori culture, Haka is often misunderstood as a “war dance.” In truth, Haka carries a much deeper meaning. Traditionally, Haka has been used by Māori communities to: welcome guests honor ancestors express grief and remembrance celebrate important moments strengthen unity within the community and prepare collectively for moments of significance Haka is a language of the body, the voice, and the spirit. It brings people into alignment with themselves, with each other, and with the land they stand upon. Through breath, rhythm, posture, and collective movement, participants begin to feel the deep power of standing together with presence and intention. TANU TE TOKI – “Bury the Axe” The Haka shared in this immersion is called TANU TE TOKI, which translates to “Bury the Axe.” This Haka was composed by Toroa as a response to the divisions and conflicts that many societies experience today. “Bury the Axe” is not a call for weakness. It is a call for conscious strength. It invites participants to lay down the inner weapons that separate us — resentment, hostility, fear — and instead step forward with clarity, dignity, and responsibility. The Haka practiced in this immersion belongs to the tradition of Haka Taparahi, a ceremonial and motivational form of Haka performed without weapons. Its movements can appear strong and fierce, yet the deeper essence is one of unity, respect, and connection. Toroa’s Approach Toroa teaches Haka not as choreography, but as embodied practice. His approach is grounded in respect for Māori cultural traditions while inviting participants to discover how the spirit of Haka can resonate within their own identity and cultural background. Participants first learn the Haka in Te Reo Māori, honoring the language and lineage from which it originates. They are then invited to explore how its message can be expressed in their own native language, creating a bridge between cultures while maintaining the integrity of the original teaching. This process opens powerful questions: What does it mean to stand for something? What does it mean to embody strength without aggression? What does it mean to speak with your full voice? Through the shared experience of movement, breath, rhythm, and voice, participants begin to discover these answers within themselves. A Collective Experience This immersion is not about watching or performing. It is about stepping into the circle. The workshop is open to both men and women, and participants move, speak, and learn the Haka together as a unified group. As the weekend unfolds, something powerful begins to happen. Voices grow stronger. Postures change. People begin to stand differently. What begins as learning movement gradually transforms into a deeper collective experience — one where individuals reconnect with their inner strength while being supported by the presence of the group. Why This Gathering Matters In many traditional cultures, collective practices exist to remind people of their connection to community, land, and inner truth. In modern life, such spaces have become rare. The Haka Immersion – TANU TE TOKI creates a container where participants can reconnect with something essential: their voice their presence their connection to others It is not about becoming someone new. It is about remembering. An Invitation Whether you come out of curiosity, cultural interest, or a deeper inner call, this weekend offers the opportunity to experience Haka in a way that is authentic, respectful, and transformative. For many participants, the most powerful realization emerges from something very simple: Standing together. Breathing together. Speaking together. In that moment, the meaning of Haka becomes clear!