He momo whāitaita a te kaihaka hei whakakaha i te tukuna o te kupu, hei whakaatu hoki i te ihi, te wehi, te wana o te kaupapa e waiatatia ana. He wā hoki ko tā te pōtētē hei whakaatu i te riri, i te whakatoi rānei. Ka katia ngā karu, ka whati ngā turi me te whakatautau anō hoki. I ētahi wā, ko te pūkana ka whai ake i muri i te pōtētē.
A facial expression of a haka performer in order to emphasise the words and to convey awe and inspiration about the topic of the performance. At times the pōtētē can also convey anger or cheek. The eyes are closed, the knees are bent and the body moves appropriately. At times the pōtētē is followed by the pūkana.