New Zealand soldiers perform ritual dance for fallen comrades

(NZDefenceForce)

Cpl. Luke Tamatea, Lance Cpl. Jacinda Baker and Pvt. Richard Harris lost their lives earlier this month when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in northeast Afghanistan.

When their bodies arrived home to Christchurch, 200 military personnel greeted them with a massive haka, an ancient war dance traditionally performed by New Zealand’s native Maori civilization.

Each branch of  New Zealand’s military has its own haka. Some units have their own individual haka as well — pictured above is the choreography unique to the 2/1 RNZIR Battalion of the Defence Force.