Nowadays haka, or the haka as it’s often called, is synonymous with the All Blacks, the New Zealand national rugby team. But did you know that it has its origins in Māori legend, or that the New Zealand women’s rugby team, the Black Ferns, have their own haka?
‘Haka’ is the generic term in the Māori language for ‘dance’, but what we tend to think of as haka is the repertoire of dances where men were traditionally at the forefront with the women’s role limited to providing vocal support in the rear. These dances included chanting, facial gestures and body movements, and were performed to display a tribe’s pride, strength and unity. They were both a war dance and a customary way to celebrate, entertain, welcome and challenge other tribes.
The origins of haka lie in a Māori legend in which Tane-rone (the son of the sun god Tama-nui-te-ra and the goddess of summer Hine-Raumati) would dance for his mother during the summer months. This was said to cause the quivering air that appears on the horizon on hot days which is symbolised in haka by the gesture of trembling hands. Although this is the origin story of haka in general, the specific haka performed has always varied by tribal region because many of them tell the story of significant events in a tribe’s history.
Since then, the Haka has come to be associated with rugby when the first New Zealand representative rugby team, then known as The Natives, performed a haka during their tour of Britain and Australia in 1888-1889. This was the Ka Mate haka which was first chanted by Chief Te Rauparaha around 1820. It tells the story of how he evaded capture by a rival tribe and was then protected by another tribe who hid him underground in a sweet potato pit. Ka mate, which begins with the words “ka mate, ka mate, ka ora, ka ora” (“I die, I die, I live, I live”) goes on to describe how Chief Te Rauparaha overcame adversity and emerged from the darkness of the pit into the light.
Originally, the All Blacks only performed haka when they played overseas which led to it not always being performed with the respect and precision it deserved. However, this all changed in 1986 when the decision was taken to perform haka at home matches. From this point, they took it much more seriously and they therefore began to perform it with the precision, respect and passion that we see today.
Although the All Blacks continue to perform Ka Mate today, it now sits alongside Kapa O Pango. This haka was written by Derek Lardelli, an expert in Māori culture of the Ngati Porou tribe, in celebration of the land of New Zealand, the silver fern and its warriors in black. First performed in August 2005, this haka, whose name literally means ‘Team in Black’, was written for and about the All Blacks and it is now performed from time to time before matches alongside Ka Mate.
Interestingly, performing haka before matches seems to have given the All Blacks an advantage over other teams. In the days when it was a war dance, the cries of the warriors were intended to lift their morale and to call on God for help to win. This seems to still work as the All Blacks, with a 77% win rate, are the most successful sports team in history. As well as the psychological edge it gives them, haka elevates the players’ heart rates above their opponents, who must stand and watch. Over the years, however, opposing teams have developed strategies, such as delaying play so that the All Blacks’ heart rates return to normal before the match begins, to counter this effect.
As well as being synonymous with New Zealand rugby, haka continues to be an important part of modern Māori culture. Kapa Haka (performance art haka) is popular among Māori youth who compete at a local and national level. The chants often address social and political issues that are present within and affect the Māroi community, almost making them rallying calls to encourage Māoris to address issues they face and call out injustices.
Haka also continues to be performed as a sign of respect on important occasions such as sporting events, weddings, funerals and Powhiri (a traditional welcome). As most haka seen today are haka taparahi (haka without weapons), they are more open to women participating, with the Black Ferns even performing their own haka called Ko Uhia Mai (Let it be known). This haka was created specifically for them by Whetu Tipiwai, a respected community leader, and gives them the chance to enjoy the same psychological edge that haka gives to the All Blacks.
A traditional performance with important uses to this day, haka is a distinctive element of Māori culture and heritage, and is still as fierce and symbolic as its original incarnations, centuries later.
