Prince Harry has a go at New Zealand’s traditional haka war cry

After just 20 minutes of rehearsing, Prince Harry performed a traditional Maori haka during his visit to New Zealand’s largest army base. The prince joined about 30 soldiers for the chest-thumping, foot-stomping war dance. A red-faced and sweating Royal looked tense but gained confidence and kept in step during the display at Linton Military Camp. The most famous haka is Ka Mate, which is regularly performed by the All Blacks rugby team. Prince Harry performed the New Zealand army’s own haka Ngati Tumatauenga (Tribe of War), which honours past campaigns and fallen comrades.

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 was sweating, we were sweating, a bit of frustration set in. He was keen, that was the main thing.

Prince Harry’s instructor Warrant Officer Brett Pene

The fifth in line to the British throne is on a week-long trip of New Zealand after a month’s spell with the Australian army. During his visit to the military base, he met a Maori performing arts group and greeted each member with a hongi – a greeting that involves pressing noses together. Prince Harry also helped with a traditional cooking method called hangi, where food is cooked in a ground pit, and met service personnel and their families who live on the base. Among them was Corporal Jason Storley, whose leg was amputated following an incident in the Solomon Islands in 2009. Cpl Storley took part in the Invictus Games in London last year. Prince Harry was the driving force behind the sporting event.

He asked us how we felt after the games and whether we found ourselves going down in morale afterwards. There’s often times when you have to put a brave face on and it can be hard when you’re alone but it’s moments like this that pick you up.

Cpl Storley, who took part in the Invictus Games in London last year organised by the Prince

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