The Haka: Ka Mate! ABOUT THE MAORI The indigenous tribal people of New Zealand, the Maori (pronounced "mowri"), have a history and culture that has become intertwined with the European immigrants over the centuries. (The Maori were originally also immigrants to New Zealand, but they were likely the first inhabitants.) Although they were not shunned to second-class citizens like the Aboriginal people of Australia the culture still had to fight to survive. Today, an effort is being made to hold on to the culture and the language. The Maori language is now taught in school. Every night on the news in New Zealand, the newscaster begins with "Kia Ora and Good Evening." (Kia Ora has no direct translation... it is similar to Aloha in its range of meanings conveying a greeting and a wish of good health.) The Maori were (and are) a tribal people with elaborate rituals, stories and dances. Their most famous war chant ("haka") is Ka Mate. It is so famous, most call it simply "The Haka" and nearly every person in New Zealand knows it. ABOUT KA MATE Ka Mate became my favorite thing about New Zealand almost as soon as I first heard it (at the Auckland museum). The energy and intensity in a room full of stomping, chanting people is unlike anything I've ever experienced. Ka Mate, because of the repeating lyrics, timed slaps and stomps, and forceful facial expressions, is especially powerful. The bulging eyes and tongue are quite unforgettable as well. Hakas of all kinds are performed everywhere, especially in Rotorua, the historical place where the Maori share their culture with the Pakeha (Europeans). Rotorua is a pleasant city a couple hours south of Auckland. It is well worth a visit and has other fun activities beyond Maori-related ones including sheep-shearing, bungy jumping, and "zorbing" (see my gallery for a picture of me sliding down a hill in a giant plastic ball, not unlike the one seen on Peter Gabriel's "Up" tour). Try to see a "Maori village" if you go. The tour I went on had the people on the bus choose a representative to meet the "chief" of the Maori village and do the right thing at the right time at the elaborate meeting ceremony so we would not "offend." It was fun, though they kept reminding us to please not laugh. The karaoke on the way back was fun, too. One place where a foreigner may have seen Ka Mate is at a Rugby game. New Zealand's national rugby team, the 'All Blacks', perform it before every game probably to psyche out their opponents. I'm told that, in addition to regular rugby practice, the players also have haka practice. If you listen closely at the end of the movie "Whale Rider" you will hear the group do an impromptu Ka Mate chant. "Whale Rider" also has some lovely examples of Maori language, dances, clothing and architecture. I bought a Famous Maori Songs CD mainly because Ka Mate was on it, though Pokarake Ana is a nice song too. Listen to Ka Mate here or right-click and "Save Target As..." to download. The Lyrics: (A) Ka ma-te, Ka ma-te! Ka ora, Ka ora! Ka mate, Ka mate! Ka ora, Ka ora! Tenei te tangata puhuruhuru Nana nei i tiki mai Whakawhiti te ra! (A) Upane! (A) Kaupane! (A) Upane! (A) Kaupane! Whiti te ra! It was death, It was death! Now tis life, Now tis life! It was death, It was death! Now tis life, Now tis life! Behold the man, the hairy man Who caused the sun to shine Up that step Up this step Into the blazing sun! Accompanying Actions: (All members of the group perform all the actions.) Leader: Kia rite Ready, hands on hips. (A) Ka mate, Ka mate! 1. Hands on the hips while the right foot is stamped in time with the rhythm. All: Ka ora, Ka ora! 2. With the elbows near to the waist and the forearms parallel to the ground, palms facing each other, move the forearms to the right twice on the accented beat. Leader: Ka mate, Ka mate! 3. Beat the thighs with the palms on the accented beats, twice. All: Ka ora, Ka ora! 4. Repeat 2. Tenei te tangata 5. Clench the fists, semi-extend the right arm forward from the waist turning the trunk slightly to the left. At the same time push the left elbow back until the fist is beside the hip. Repeat with the left arm forward. Puhuruhuru 6. Facing the front, hold the arms as in 5. On "pu" extend the fingers of both hands. The fingers of the left hand point forward, while the right arm with the fingers pointing obliquely down moves with a dipping motion close to the body at waist level. Nana i tiki 7. Repeat 5 to the right and then left. mai, whakawhiti te ra! 8. Repeat 6, extending the fingers on "mai". (A) Upane! (A) Kaupane! 9. Hold the left forearm across the body at waist level with the palm facing the body. The right upper arm is extended sideways and the forearm, with palm facing forward, points upward. Repeat with the arm positions reversed. (A) Upane! (A) Kaupane! 10. Repeat 9. Whiti te 11. With both fists clenched, the left arm is bent, upper arm forward from the shoulder and the forearm pointing upwards with the thumb on the outside. With the right fist draw an imaginary counter-clockwise circle under the left elbow. ra! 12. Jump high in the air with arms stretched above the head, palms facing forward, knees bent, and feet tucked up behind the body. An alternative for 12 may be to entend right forearm to the right side with the palm facing forward. Clench the left fist and hold the forearm across the body at waist level. The above lyrics and photos were found on a number of sites dedicated to the haka, not least of which is www.haka.co.nz. More detailed information on the Haka, its history, and an alternate translation is found here. The New Zealand Rugby site also has a great deal of information about the Haka including, and this is best of all, a downloadable video of Ka Mate in action! I once taught this chant and dance to some American 4th graders. They loved it! Stomping, and yelling powerfully crosses all cultures, I guess.