What's the Haka?

A haka includes facial contortions, stamping feet, grunting, tongue-flicking and chanting. Traditionally, the All Blacks perform Te Rauparaha’s haka Ka Mate.

Since 2005, however, the New Zealand rugby team has performed Kapa o Pango on special occasions. It’s a modified version of the 1924 All Blacks haka Kia Whaka-ngawari. Check out the words and translation of Ka Mate:

Maori Version:

A ka mate! Ka mate!
Ka ora! Ka ora!
Ka mate! Ka mate!
Ka ora! Ka ora!
Tenei te tangata puhuruhuru
Nana i tiki mai
Whakawhiti te ra
A hupane! A kaupane!
A hupane, kaupane
Whiti te ra! Hi!

English Version:

I die! I die! I live! I live!
I die! I die! I live! I live!
This is the hairy man
Who fetched the Sun
And caused it to shine again
One upward step! Another upward step!
An upward step, another ... the sun shines! Rise!

Although New Zealand’s All Blacks have made the haka world-famous, this Maori posture dance is not just performed by rugby players. In New Zealand, a national competition is held every two years for kapa haka performance art groups who perform different versions of the haka in front of a passionate audience. If you would like to experience a cultural performance or other Maori cultural activity, click here.