Ka Mate Haka

The iconic Māori haka composed by Te Rauparaha, performed by the All Blacks and known worldwide.

Ka Mate ([ˈkaˌmatɛ]) 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.

Quick Facts

Originator: Te Rauparaha (Ngāti Toa)

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 kūmara storage pit while a woman (wāhine) 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 Ka Mate haka as a result. Ka Mate is a haka taparahi, a ceremonial haka performed without weapons, with set words and movements that are performed in unison.

Reader's Guide

Ka Mate is the most widely known haka both in New Zealand and worldwide because a choreographed and synchronised version of the chant has traditionally been performed by the All Blacks, New Zealand's international rugby union team, as well as the Kiwis, New Zealand's international rugby league team, immediately prior to test (international) matches until 2013, when a specific haka, 'Te Iwi Kiwi', was used instead. Since 2005 the All Blacks have occasionally performed another haka, 'Kapa o Pango'.

Before the end of the 2003 Rugby World Cup, the performance of the Ka Mate by the All Blacks usually ended with a mid-air leap. Prior to 1985 the All Blacks haka was not performed with the usual performance, as most players of European ancestry had no full training on the ceremony. It took two Māori during this time (Buck Shelford and Hika Reid) to revolutionise the way it was delivered, culminating in a style close to the original haka. The non-Māori players from this point on learnt how to perform.

When we're in Wellington we perform Ka Mate, we're paying respects to Te Rauparaha and the lands that he walked on. There's no massive reason for doing either one except for when we're in Wellington we always do Ka Mate.'

Did You Know?

In 2024, New Zealand MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke led Ka Mate in Parliament during a protest against the Treaty Principles Bill.
Ngāti Toa attempted to trademark Ka Mate between 1998 and 2006, but the Intellectual Property Office declined the claim in 2006.