The Māori people worship multiple gods, each one having their own domain and power. They have a deep respect for nature, because to them, every creature here is a part of their family. The Haka offers a way to connect with nature, with their family. That is why it was performed in sacred places, to forge a deeper connection. This is also where Ta Moko, the art of Māori tattoos came in. This was a sacred and extremely painful procedure to do, but each symbol held meaning. A few of these are:
Pakati, which represented warriors, courage, and battles.
Then there is Manaia, a guardian spirit and protector.
Then, there was the importance of the color. Red represented the Earth Mother, where the first humans came from. It symbolized strength, determination, passion, and the female element of the Earth. Black represented the heavens. It embodied the male element, the darkness that came before the Earth emerged. White was for purity, the physical world, balance, harmony, and enlightenment. These three colors are especially important to Māori culture, that is why they are used in the Māori flag of New Zealand. The three colors together represent how the natural forces are to be balanced together. Life is to be lived with equality, a respect for nature and everything that surrounds them.
