Ka Mate

"Ka Mate" is a Māori haka composed by Te Rauparaha, war leader of the Ngāti Toa tribe of the North Island of New Zealand. Te Rauparaha composed Ka Mate as a celebration of life over death (Pōmare 2006) after his lucky escape from pursuing Ngati Maniapoto and Waikato enemies. He had hidden from them in a food-storage pit, and climbed back into the light to be met by a chief friendly to him - Te Whareangi (the "hairy man").

"Ka Mate" is the most widely known haka in New Zealand and elsewhere because it has traditionally been performed by the All Blacks, New Zealand's international rugby union team, immediately prior to test (international) matches. Since 2005 the All Blacks have occasionally performed another haka, "Kapa o Pango".

The haka as composed by Te Rauparaha begins with a chant:

:Kikiki kakaka kauana!:Kei waniwania taku tara:Kei tarawahia, kei te rua i te kerokero!:He pounga rahui te uira ka rarapa;:Ketekete kau ana to peru kairiri:Mau au e koro e – Hi! Ha!:Ka wehi au ka matakana,:Ko wai te tangata kia rere ure?:Tirohanga ngā rua rerarera:Ngā rua kuri kakanui i raro! Aha ha!

Then follows the main body of the haka:

ee also

* Haka
* Haka of the All Blacks
* Haka in popular culture
* Kapa haka
* Māori music

References

*M. Pōmare, 'Ngāti Toarangatira', "Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand", updated 9-Jun-2006, [http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/NewZealanders/MaoriNewZealanders/NgatiToarangatira/en www.teara.govt.nz]
*M. Pōmare, 'Ngāti Toarangatira - Chant composed by Te Rauparaha', "Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand", updated 26-Sep-2006, [http://www.teara.govt.nz/NewZealanders/MaoriNewZealanders/NgatiToarangatira/4/ENZ-Resources/Standard/2/en]

External links

* [http://www.haka.co.nz/haka.php The story behind "Ka Mate"] - includes a recording
* [http://folksong.org.nz/ka_mate/index.html Another and different translation of Haka] - tells the meaning behind the translation