A New Zealand school has honored a late teacher with national pride and unity.
The entire student body of Palmerston North Boys' High School performed a traditional Maori dance last Friday at the funeral of a beloved teacher, the Telegraph reported. With powerful chants and movements, the students ushered in the hearse carrying the late Dawson Tamatea, honoring their educator with a fierce display of pride and love.
Called a haka, the ancient dance was used by Maori in New Zealand, both on the battlefield and when groups came together in peace, according to newzealand.com. Now the tradition is used to honor special guests at ceremonies.
As a celebrated educator, the dance was an appropriate tribute to Tamatea who was the dean of Maori student achievement and who “was able to create an atmosphere and develop an environment where it was a real family feeling,” David Bovey, the head of the school, told the Manawatu Standard.
That same feeling is conveyed in the powerful performance, as the students stand tall together and deliver an astounding tribute.
“This was a very emotional and powerful performance,” the school wrote on YouTube. “We are extremely proud of our boys' performance and we know that Mr. Tamatea would be too.”
Watch the full video above.
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