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The ancient Ka Mate haka


The All Black haka is an ancient haka, says Patricia Burns (1983). It was modified in about 1810 by the warrior chief Te Rauparaha of the Ngati Toa tribe when he added to the end of a longer haka.



Margaret Orbell (1967) pointed out that in the ancient usage of the Ka mate haka "te tangata puhuruhuru" (the hairy person) symbolised unified strength. And that "Whiti te ra" (the shining sun) symbolised light, life, peace.


She noted that the original version of the haka had "Upane, ka upane" (together, all together). When men are united, all together, they became the Hairy One, powerful enough to bring about the triumph of life over death, that is, to transform war into peace. Consequently this haka was performed to affirm the making of the peace process between tribes. "Ka mate, ka ora" conveys the feelings of the reunited groups: "We thought we were all going to die, but now we are safe."


E H Schnackenburg of Kawhaia (1948) says that this haka formerly celebrated the triumph of Maui in capturing the sun, an allegorical story telling of how the sunny days (times of peace) were too short and the nights (periods of war) were too long. So as the sun came up one morning, Maui lassoed it and slowed it down to make longer days, the message being that a strong, brave, ingenious leader is needed to ensure peaceful times.


Similarly, the purpose of rugby football tours, in their pre-commercial days, was to affirm the bonds of peace and unity between isolated regions and countries.