Kapa o Pango

Lore & Background

The haka debuted in August 2005, before the Tri-Nations test match between New Zealand and South Africa at Carisbrook stadium in Dunedin. The All Blacks performed a new haka, "Kapa o Pango", specially composed by Derek Lardelli and designed to reflect the multi-cultural make-up of contemporary New Zealand – in particular the influence of Polynesian cultures. This new haka was to be reserved for special occasions and was not intended to replace "Ka Mate". England became the second team to face it on 19 November 2005 at Twickenham. The first time the All Blacks lost after performing "Kapa o Pango" was on 2 September 2006 against South Africa in Newlands, Cape Town. The haka has been performed at every Rugby World Cup knockout match since 2011.

In Their Own Story

Lancaster Park dimmed, shadows stretching long over the grass where twenty men stood locked in formation. Silence swallowed the stadium before a single voice began low, vibrating through chests and turf alike. As the rhythm climbed, the crowd's hush grew heavier than any roar. Then came the final strike: hands slicing the air at their own throats. Sharp. Deliberate. Absolute. It was not a threat to those across the field, but a promise to those who walked before them. The ball lay untouched nearby. In that suspended moment, they were guardians of an old song in a new world.

Reader's Guide

When "Kapa o Pango" has been performed the All Blacks have won 75 tests, lost 20 tests and have drawn three times. The biggest winning margin was 57 points on 16 September 2017 against South Africa at North Harbour Stadium Albany, Auckland (57–0). The biggest losing margin is 28 points, against South Africa at Twickenham on 25 August 2023 (35–7). The longest sequence of performances is seven, which occurred during 2023. Ten players have led "Kapa o Pango", with eight being of Māori descent and two of Samoan descent.

Did You Know?

• Only five sides have ever beaten the All Blacks in a match in which "Kapa o Pango" occurred: South Africa (2006), Australia (2007), England (2012), Ireland (2016) and France (2023).
• The first time the All Blacks lost after performing "Kapa o Pango" was on 2 September 2006 against South Africa in Newlands, Cape Town.
• In every Rugby World Cup knockout match since 2011 the version of the haka performed has been "Kapa o Pango".
• The only Rugby World Cup knockout stage match since its inception to not feature the new haka was the 2007 quarter-final against France.