Ka Mate

The haka of life over death, born from a chief's escape.

Ka Mate is a Māori haka composed by Te Rauparaha, the historic leader of the iwi of Ngāti Toa of the North Island of New Zealand during the Musket Wars.

Lore & Background

Te Rauparaha composed Ka Mate around 1820 as a celebration of life over death after his lucky escape from pursuing Ngāti Maniapoto and Waikato enemies. He had hidden from them, on Motuopihi Island in Lake Rotoaira, in a storage pit while a woman by the name of Rangikoaea straddled the pit to hide and protect him. Upon emerging from the pit and into the sun he was grateful to Rangikoaea and her husband Te Wharerangi, composing the haka as a result.

Reader's Guide

Ka Mate was conceived as a brief energising haka of the type where, in the absence of set movements, the performers are free to extemporise their chanting and movement as they feel fit, without any need for synchronisation.

Did You Know?

Since 2005 the All Blacks have occasionally performed another haka, 'Kapa o Pango'.
Between 1998 and 2006, Ngāti Toa attempted to trademark 'Ka Mate' to prevent its use by commercial organisations without their permission.
In 2021, Glen Osborne turned the body of the haka into a ballad in C major.