Haka: Ka Mate

The name of the Māori haka (ceremonial dance) performed before events is called Ka Mate.

A haka is a type of ceremonial Māori dance or challenge. Haka are usually performed in a group and typically represent a display of a tribe's pride, strength and unity. Actions include foot-stamping, tongue protrusions and rhythmic body slapping to accompany a loud chant.

It is a traditional war dance meant to show off Māori culture but also to intimidate the opposition - and some teams feel they shouldn't simply have to watch, but should be allowed to respond.

Ka Mate was composed by Te Rauparaha of Ngati Toa and has intellectual property rights over the haka.

The haka is a passionate, traditional dance famous around the world.

Who can perform the haka?

While there are some haka that can only be performed by men, there are others that can be performed by anyone and even some women-only haka. Many young Māori people perform in kapa haka groups which have local and national competitions.

Non-Māori are welcome to learn the haka, however, it's important that you respect the culture and traditions behind the dance. Learn the words and make sure you understand the meanings behind the chants, the significance of a particular haka and what you are trying to express when performing it.

The origin of the haka

The Māori legend describing the origin of the haka paints it as a celebration of life. The story goes that Tama-nui-te-ra, the sun god, and his wife Hine-raumati, who embodies summer, had a son named Tane-rore. On hot summer days, Tane-rore would dance for his mother, causing the air to quiver. This light, rapid movement was the foundation of all haka.

The Greatest haka EVER

Ahead of the final of Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand, the French team formed an arrow as the All Blacks performed their pre-match tradition - the haka.

Haka Protest Dispute 2021

A Maori tribe has demanded protesters stop using their haka war dance, made internationally famous by the All Blacks, to promote opposition to the COVID-19 vaccination.

The Ka Mate haka has been performed at numerous anti-mandate and vaccine protests, and leaders of the Ngati Toa tribe said they had been made aware it was planned for future events.

" Our message to protesters who wish to use Ka Mate is to use a different haka,'' Te Runanga o Toa Rangatira chief executive Helmut Modlik said yesterday. " We do not endorse the use of Ka Mate for this purpose.''

A settlement in 2014 came with special legislation acknowledging Ngati Toa ancestor Te Rauparaha as composer of the Ka Mate haka, and that the iwi, or tribe, has intellectual property rights over the haka. Ngati Toa condemned the use of the haka by anti-vaccination groups, and hailed the benefits of vaccination.

" Ngati Toa has been proactive in the protection of our whanau [clan] against COVID-19 with our Ora Toa Health Services being a major provider of COVID-19 vaccinations across our rohe [territory ],'' Modlik said.

" Many of our tupuna [ancestors] lost their lives in previous pandemics and our iwi suffered greatly. We are absolutely clear that the COVID-19 vaccine is the best protection we have available to us and we are committed to supporting our whanau to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

" Protests are promoting the views of individuals ahead of the needs of collective whanau.'' They said the protests did not match the values of their culture and their ancestors would agree.

Ngati Toa elder Taku Parai, an authority on the tribe's traditions, backed the calls.

" As the descendants of Te Rauparaha, we insist that protesters stop using our taonga immediately . We do not support their position and we do not want our tupuna or our iwi associated with their messages.'' Stuff.co.nz