By Azuhura Haka War Dance

What Is The Ka Mate Haka Dance? The Ka Mate is a dance performed before a war or to challenge an opponent. It is known for loud chanting, aggressive movement, stomping of the feet, fierce looks and at the end a sticking out of the tongue.

The All Black perform this dance at the start of each game with, opponents that are not New Zealanders.

The Ka Mate Haka History The Ka Mate Haka was composed by a chief named Te Rauparaha around 1820. He was being pursued by enemy tribes. The Ngati Maniapoto and the Waikato. He ran to Motuopuhi where he begged the local chief, Te Whareangi to shelter him. After some convincing, Te Whareangi agreed and hid him in his Kumara (sweet potato) pit. Te Rangikoaea sat over the hole. As the pursuers came Te Rauparaha mutter Ka Mate Ka Mate (I die, I die) because he felt trapped and doomed in the Kumara pit. (Paul Waite)

Te Wharerangi told Te Raupahara‘s enemies that he had gone south, Te Wharerangi mutter Ka Ora, Ka Ora (I live, I live). Te Wharerangi‘s words had not convinced the enemies and Te Raupahara mutter Ka Mate, Ka Mate (I die, I die). Finally after his enemies were convinced that Te Raupahara had gone south, they left in pursuit of him and Te Raupahara exclaimed “Ka Ora, Ka Ora” (“I live! I live!”) Tenei te tangata puhuruhuru nana nei I tiki mai whakawhiti te ra!” (“For this is the hairy man who has fetched the sun and caused it to shine again!”). (Paul Waite)

Analogy of The Ka Mate Hake “Tenei te tangata puhuruhuru” (“Hairy man.”)Te Wharerangi is too be “described as a man with more than his fair share of body hair.” (Paul Waite.) “Nana nei I tiki mai whakawhiti te ra!” (“Who has fetched the sun and caused it to shine again!”) This part is a thank you to Te Wharerangi, because had he not made the decision to hid Te Raupahara. He would have never seen the sun shine.

“A upane. Ka upane. ” (One step upwards, another step upwards “A upane! Ka upane!” (One step upwards, another step upwards!) Upane literally translates to “terrance.” (“Haka: Ka Mate.”) It is believe that each Upane said in the Haka represents the steps Te Raupahara had to take, in order to climb out of the pit. (“Haka: Ka Mate.”) “Whiti te ra!” (“The sun shines!”) Te Raupahara is delighted that he got to see the sun shine again. Also that he managed to trick death.

The Dance Moves http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kysXeyjPi84 This is a video clip of one of the All Blacks doing the Ka Mate in slow motion.

The Ka Mate Words The original Ka Mate words. “A, ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora! Ka mate! Ka mate! Tenei te tangata puhuruhuru Nana nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te ra! A upane! Ka upane! Whiti te ra!” (“Haka: Ka Mate.”) “'Tis death! 'Tis death! 'Tis life! 'Tis life! 'Tis death! 'Tis death! Behold! There stands the hairy man Who will cause the sun to shine! One step upwards, another step upwards! The sun shines!” (“Haka: Ka Mate”) The original Ka Mate words. The translated words of the Ka Mate.

Video Of The All Blacks Doing The Haka http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdMCAV6Yd0Y&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW9nLK5PHqg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udj_qZ_Shs0 For the second video skip to 1:04. The All Blacks Maori Ka Mate dance with females.

Bibliography “Haka: Ka Mate.” The New Zealand Curriculum Exemplars. PDF. 10/3/10. <http://www.tki.org.nz/r/assessment/exemplars/arts/dance/pdfs/da_4a_e.pdf> Rivera, Larry. About.com. Web. 10/3/10. <http://goaustralia.about.com/od/maoriculture/f/haka.htm> Waite, Paul. Haka. Web. 10/3/10. <http://www.haka.co.nz/haka.php>

Appendix http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/2/12/1234429829837/A-Maori-performs-a-Haka-002.jpg http://z.about.com/d/gohawaii/1/0/i/z/3/princeville_luau_31.jpg http://static.open.salon.com/files/haka_all_blacks_dance1219293850.jpg http://www.wayfaring.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/haka_dance.jpg http://www.indianmoundsrockclub.com/images/sunshine.jpg http://soccertunes.tk/blog/files/2009/10/haka_how_to_perform.jpg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdMCAV6Yd0Y&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW9nLK5PHqg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udj_qZ_Shs0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kysXeyjPi84