Assistant principal Vai Mahutariki said the school’s haka had evolved over the past 100 years.
"Different generations add something to it."
The most recent version of the haka had been gifted to the school about 25 years ago by whānau involved at the rūnanga in Waitati, which had boys who attended the school.
When Mr Mahutariki started at the school at the beginning of 2021 he began a process to understand the history of the haka and to see if it could connect in a more meaningful way with the school.
"We want our boys to culturally feel proud of who they are, regardless of [whether] they are from the Pacific, from the Middle East, from New Zealand or wherever."
Mr Mahutariki met with old boys, some who had been at the school more than 50 years ago, some who had more recently left the school.
"I asked their thoughts on the school haka, what was important to them."
The school values, brotherhood and unity were some of the elements that were important to them.
Mr Mahutariki engaged with the tangata whenua, kaumatua, and local dialectal exponents in the area to ensure a new haka would have the appropriate language and meaning.
The new haka is called "Tū Mana" — "Which means to stand proud of who you are and where you come from."
The new haka included the phrase "kia tū kotahi aia", or "one brotherhood".
"No matter what your background story is, everyone has an opportunity and a place to be successful at Otago Boys’ High School."
Another new element was including the school values of excellence — hiranga; respect — whakaute; courage — toa; honour — honore, and perseverance — manawanui.
"Our values at our school have always been heavily important to us."
Members of the Otago Boys’ High School First XV rugby team have begun rehearsing the actions and the new haka will continue to be developed throughout this year before being officially unveiled to the school, Mr Mahutariki said.
The formation of a new haka had been a careful process to ensure it could be part of the school for many years to come.
