Palmerston North, New Zealand--Britain's Prince Harry performed a fearsome Maori war dance, or haka, and mingled with tattooed ex-convicts on his trip to New Zealand Wednesday.
Red-faced and sweating with exertion, the fifth in line to the throne participated in a chest-thumping, foot-stomping haka alongside about 30 soldiers at the Linton army camp north of Wellington.
He had just 20 minutes to learn the dance before performing it publicly, with his instructor Warrant Officer Brett Pene praising the royal's efforts.
"Given the time restraints in trying to teach him, it was a bit difficult trying to learn the actions and the words, so I think he did really well," he told reporters.
"He was sweating, we were sweating, a bit of frustration set in. He was keen, that was the main thing."
The Maori haka is a traditional challenge, the most famous of which "Ka Mate" is regularly performed by the All Blacks rugby team.
Harry performed the New Zealand's army's own haka "Ngati Tumatauenga", or "Tribe of War", which honours fallen comrades and past campaigns.
Pene said it was "humbling" to have the prince perform the Army's haka, given the royal visitor's own military background which has included two tours of Afghanistan.
While at the base, Harry also met a Maori performing arts group, greeting each member individually with a "hongi", or nose-pressing welcome.
AFP
