Going deeper: the fascinating history of Haka Ka Mate
After our Maori Haka Masters stun and surprise their unsuspecting audience, they first explain the fascinating history and tribal context that surround this cultural experience. By understanding this history, our participants buy in and engage much more deeply with the activity. Our Haka instructors skillfully deliver the Haka history authentically and in a way that is also thoroughly entertaining.
Here for your further reading is some background information and a description of the story behind the Ka Mate Haka.
Our team building participants are often surprised to learn that there are literally hundreds of different variations of Haka. The most famous of all is the Ka Mate, which was composed by a chief named Te Rauparaha in the 1820s.
Te Rauparaha was the High Chief of the Ngati Toa. While being pursued by his enemies, and having to outmanoeuvre them for weeks, Te Rauparaha came to Chief Te Wharerangi and asked for his protection. Te Rauparaha explained to him that he feared that his own people would dissipate and his tribe would be lost if he was caught and killed.
Understanding that the pursuers were almost upon him, Te Wharerangi hid him in a pit. Crouching in the dark as his pursuers arrived, Te Rauparaha muttered under his breath, “Ka mate! Ka mate!” (I die! I die!).
Te Wharerangi explained to the pursuers that Te Rauparaha had left and gone and Te Rauparaha then quietly whispered “Ka Ora! Ka Ora!” (I live! I live!).
When the pursuers doubted Te Wharerangi, Te Rauparaha muttered “Ka mate! Ka mate!” (I die! I die!) once again.
Te Wharerangi eventually convinced the doubting pursuers and Te Rauparaha exclaimed “Ka ora! Ka ora! Tenei te tangata puhuruhuru nana nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te ra!” (I live! I live! For this is the hairy man who has fetched the sun and caused it to shine again). The hairy man in the Haka refers to the chief Te Wharerangi who gave Te Rauparaha his very unique protection.
The words of the Ka Mate Haka in full
Here are the full words of the Ka Mate:
Ka mate! Ka mate!
Ka ora! Ka ora!
Ka mate! Ka mate!
Ka ora! Ka ora!
Tenei te tangata puhuru huru! Nana nei i tiki mai! Whakawhiti te ra!
A upa…ne! ka upa…ne! A upane kaupane whiti te ra! Hi!
This translates to:
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!