Haka in sports
This article deals with the two Haka of the All Blacks.
The All Blacks' haka
The haka performed by the All Blacks (the Kamate haka) dates to 1810 when Chief Te Rauparaha of the Ngāti Toa iwi (clan or tribe) was being chased by enemies. He hid in a food-storage pit under the skirt of a woman. Because this was such a shameful thing to do, Te Rauparaha thought he would be safe. He climbed out to find someone standing over him, who, instead of killing Te Rauparaha, turned out to be another chief friendly to Te Rauparaha. In relief Te Rauparaha performed a haka with the words (translated from Māori)—
It is death, it is death: it is life, it is life; this is the man who enabled me to live as I climb up step by step toward sunlight.
These words are still used today.
Even though the Ka Mate haka might seem inappropriate to be used as inspiration, the All Blacks are believed to have first used the Ka Mate haka in 1906.
Performance
Before the Ka Mate haka these (or similarly themed) instructions come from the person leading the haka:
Leader: (Rough translation in parenthesis)
Ringa pakia (Slap the hands against the thighs!)
Uma tiraha (Puff out the chest!)
Turi whatia (Bend the knees!)
Hope whai ake (Let the hip follow!)
Waewae takahia kia kino (Stamp the feet as hard as you can!)
The actual haka itself then soon follows:
Leader/Team:
Ka mate, ka mate/Ka ora ka ora ('Tis death, 'Tis death/'Tis life,'Tis life, or perhaps, Will I die? Will I die? Will I live? Will I live?)
Ka mate, ka mate/Ka ora ka ora
All:
Tenei te tangata puhuruhuru (There is the man so hairy...)
Nana nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te ra (...who brought the sun and caused it to shine)
A upane, ka upane (A step, another step)
A upane, ka upane
Whiti te ra (The sun shines)
Kapa o Pango (the new All Blacks' haka)
Before a Tri Nations match against South Africa on August 28 2005, the All Blacks unexpectedly introduced a radically new haka. Kapa O Pango, written by Derek Lardelli of Ngati Porou, it featured an extended and aggressive introduction by team captain Tana Umaga and was highlighted by its more aggressive climax: each player performing a throat-slitting action directed at the opposing team. The All Blacks went on to win the match 31 to 27.
The new haka is said to have been over a year in the making, and was created in consultation with many experts in Māori culture. It will serve as a complement to Ka Mate rather than a replacement, to be used for 'special occasions'. The words to Kapa O Pango are more specific to the rugby team than Ka Mate, referring to the warriors in black and the silver fern[1]
| Kapa o pango kia whakawhenua au i ahau! | Let me become one with the land |
|
|
Hi aue, hi! | ||
| Ko Aotearoa e ngunguru nei! Au, au, aue ha! | This is our land that rumbles And it's my time! It's my moment! | |
|
I ahaha! | ||
| Ka tu te ihiihi Ka tu te wanawana | Our dominance Our supremacy will triumph |
See also
External links
- The 2003 Schools Kapa Haka Nationals held at Hopuhopu November 28, 29 Nga Whakataetae Kapa Haka o te Motu mo nga Kura Tuatahi, Waikato 2003.
- Lyrics and history of the All Black Haka
- All Blacks Official site on the Haka (with several videos)
- History of the All Black Haka
- http://history-nz.org/rauparaha.html - Te Rauparaha and ka mate.