Spice Girls' war dance angers natives

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- The British pop group Spice Girls has angered Maori leaders by performing the haka, the traditional war dance of New Zealand's indigenous people.
 
Only men are supposed to perform the haka.
 
"It is not acceptable in our culture, and especially by girlie pop stars from another culture," Joe Harawira, a member of Urban Maorian Authorities, was quoted today as saying by the Dominion daily.
 
During a promotional visit to Bali, Indonesia, last week, the Spice Girls twice performed a type of haka after two New Zealand rugby players among the 100 spectators offered to show them a version of the dance.
 
Maori are extremely sensitive about outsiders using their symbols or ceremonies, which they see as denigration of their culture.
 
Spice Girls manager Bart Cools said the artists did not mean to mock Maori culture.
 
"They absolutely did not want to anger anyone," Cools was quoted as telling the Evening Post newspaper.