By Azuhura

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. (“Rivera, Larry.”)

 The All Black perform this dance at the start of each game with, opponents that are not New Zealanders. (“Rivera, Larry.”)

The Ka Mate Haka History

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

 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!”). (Waite, Paul. )

Analyzing The Ka Mate Haka

 “Tenei te tangata puhuruhuru” (“Hairy man.”)Te Wharerangi is too be “described as a man with more than his fair share of body hair.” (Waite,Paul.)  “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!) 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

 yjPi84 This is a video clip of one of the All Blacks doing the Ka Mate in slow motion. yjPi84

The Ka Mate Words

The original Ka Mate words. The translated words of the Ka Mate.  “A, ka mate! Ka mate!  Ka ora! Ka ora!  Ka mate! Ka mate!  Ka ora! Ka ora!  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!  'Tis life! 'Tis life!  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 All Blacks Doing The Ka Mate and Maorian’s Doing The Ka Mate

The All Blacks Maori Ka Mate dancer with females in the background.  watch?v=tdMCAV6Yd0Y &feature=related watch?v=tdMCAV6Yd0Y &feature=related  watch?v=VW9nLK5PHqg watch?v=VW9nLK5PHqg  watch?v=Udj_qZ_Shs0 watch?v=Udj_qZ_Shs0

Bibliography “Haka: Ka Mate.” The New Zealand Curriculum Exemplars. PDF. 10/3/10. mplars/arts/dance/pdfs/da_4a_e.pdf Rivera, Larry. About.com. Web. 10/3/10. Waite, Paul. Haka. Web. 10/3/10.

Appendix  images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/2/12/ /A-Maori-performs- a-Haka-002.jpg images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/2/12/ /A-Maori-performs- a-Haka-002.jpg  k%202.jpg k%202.jpg     e%20Icons/History/256x256/History.jpg e%20Icons/History/256x256/History.jpg       

Appendix   %20New%20Zealand%20(Maori)%20-%20Greenstone%20Hei- Tiki%20with%20mother%20of%20pearl%20inlaid%20eyes.jpg %20New%20Zealand%20(Maori)%20-%20Greenstone%20Hei- Tiki%20with%20mother%20of%20pearl%20inlaid%20eyes.jpg    mBo2bDdx81fE6ylZncXMSmKW1CnyBt4230k8wMolZ5Q/ABDRPOST07_m.jpg mBo2bDdx81fE6ylZncXMSmKW1CnyBt4230k8wMolZ5Q/ABDRPOST07_m.jpg     