Why do native new zealenders (maori people) stick their toungue out?
When the Maori stick their tongue out it is part of one of the many haka dances. Different kinds of hakas were performed for different occasions; to greet visitors, for amusement, to acknowledge an important event or achievement, and some were preformed before going into battle. War hakas (peruperu) were performed by warriors before a battle, to declaire their strength and prowess in order to intimidate their enemies. By displaying fierce facial expressions and grimaces, waving weapons, poking out the tongue, bulging and showing the whites of the eyes, and uttering grunts and cries, the Maori hoped to invoke the war God and frighten their opponents. So I think that the tongue sticking out was just a part of this greater display of fierceness: to intimidate, frighten, and shock their war enemies.
