Maoris at war with Spice Girls

Maori leaders are on the warpath after reports that the Spice Girls had performed a traditional Maori war dance in jest. The group infuriated Maori cultural experts by fooling around with the Ka Mate haka - the version of the dance used by the All Black rugby team to intimidate opponents - on a promotional visit to Bali last week.

"It's a denigration of a people's culture," Timoti Karetu, of the Maori Language Commission, told Wellington's Dominion newspaper. "It is unacceptable." Reuters - Wellington