Ka Mate: Origins of the iconic haka

Tuesday, 13 August 2024

Ka Mate was composed by Te Rauparaha, the leader of Ngāti Toa, around 1820.

Ka Mate will be performed by thousands of people at Eden Park on September 29 in an attempt to break the record for the world’s largest haka.

To register as one of the 10,000 enthusiastic participants at Eden Park visit: www.hakarecord.co.nz.

Kiwis are accustomed to seeing the haka Ka Mate performed by the All Blacks before a rugby match.

But the origins of the haka can be traced back to the 19th century Musket Wars and a cunning chieftain hiding from his enemies.

Ka Mate will be performed by thousands of people at Eden Park on September 29 in an attempt to break the record for the world’s largest haka.

“Haka is telling a story through the actions of the body,” Taka Parai of Ngāti Toa, the iwi behind the Ka Mate haka, said.

“Giving you the reasons why through actions of the hand, feet, the eyes, the lips, the nostrils, the tongue.”

Ka Mate was composed by Te Rauparaha, the leader of Ngāti Toa, around 1820 during the Musket Wars.

“There became a time within Ngāti Toa’s history when things became quite testy in Kawhia,” Parai said.

“Te Rauparaha knew that he needed support… he thought he’d undertake a hikoi to go talk to different relatives. He headed down towards Taupo to Ngāti Tūwharetoa.”

But a rival iwi discovered Te Rauparaha was in the area and pursued him.

The chieftain sought help from Ngāti Tūwharetoa chief Te Wharerangi on Motuopihi Island in Lake Rotoaira.

He was told to hide in a kumara pit, with Te Wharerangi’s wife, Te Rangikoaea, directed to sit on top of it.

“When the pursuing tribe arrives he’s thinking to himself Ka Mate, I’m dead, Ka Mate,” Parai said.

“Then the final decision was made by the pursuing iwi to leave… he starts coming out of the kumara pit saying in his mind, Ka Mate, Ka Mate, Ka Ora, Ka Ora. I die, I die, I live, I live.

“Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru. Nāna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā. I’m going to live to see the sun shine again.”

Parai said as a show of respect and appreciation Te Rauparaha created the Ka Mate haka.

“An act of aroha, an act of appreciation and an act of humility, and an act of forever in debt,” he said.

“Like my tūpuna, I die, I die, I live, I live. You know, get down to the bones of why we’re here, and I can tell that story through the actions of my body.”

The attempt to break the world haka record aims to draw 10,000 people to Eden Park and will raise funds for the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre.

It will be officially adjudicated by Guinness World Records and funds will help the centre deliver life-changing music therapy to those who need it most.

To register as one of the 10,000 enthusiastic participants at Eden Park, visit: www.hakarecord.co.nz.

Participant tickets are $35 per adult, $25 for concessions, however the first 5000 participants receive an early bird price of $25 and $15 respectively.

Spectator tickets are available at $30 for adults and $20 for concessions to witness this historic event.

For more information on Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust and to learn how to donate, please visit www.rmtc.org.nz.

Parai said people are starting to be a bit more respectful and making enquiries prior to using Ka Mate.

“We want people to do it, it’s a taonga of the country, as long as that ihi, that wehi, that wana is in there, it’s actually quite encouraging,” he said.

“When you see people do it well, they do it meaningfully, it’s fantastic.”