Haka- Translation and Meaning

Haka Chant:

“Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!

  Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!

  Tenei te tangata pu-huru-huru

  Nana nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te ra!

  Upane! ka upane!

  Hupane! kaupane!

  Whiti t era! Hi!”²

       Translation:

            “It is death! It is death! It is life! It is life! 
             We’re going to die! We’re going to die! We’re going to live! We’re going to live! 
             This is the man, so hairy who fetched and made shine the sun!
             Together! Keep together!
             Up the step! A second step!
             Out comes the sun! Ahh!3


Translations source:
2. Archer, John. "NZ Folksong * Ka Mate - the Chant." NZ Folksong * Ka Mate - the Chant. November 1, 1999. Accessed November 26, 2015
3. Ibid

       Tattoos:

The most common tattoo to the Maori people is the Ta Moko-Maori. It normally covers the entire face and was made up of curved shapes and spiral patterns. Tattoos can mean rank, social status, power and prestige. The cool thing about these tattoos is they are all different because the tattoo in a way describes the person. 

These tattoos aren't just done by a local tattoo artist. They had a specific artist in their culture called  the tohunga ta moko which means moko specialist. These tattooists are highly respected and considered tapu which means inviolable or holy, and were mostly men but some women practice.

Controversy over the Haka

The media in the video above is portraying the Haka as an unnecessary pre-game intimidation method. They actually eliminate performing the Haka in football. New Zealand was the first sporting team to perform the Haka at a sporting event. They performed it as a tribute to their ancestors and for the spiritual meaning. Now other sports only use the Haka to instill fear into their opponents, which is wrong because it is ruining the meaning and can be taken as an insult to the ancestors who created it. 

History of the Haka

The Haka dates back to ancient times, used in several times of war to attempt to intimidate the enemy, as well as when groups came together in peaceful celebrations to celebrate times of peace. The type of dance it is most related to is the Maori war dances. The Haka is used to signify the tribes strength, pride and unity. The movements in a Haka dance include such things as violent foot stomping, sticking the tongue out, and body slapping in rhythms as well as loud chanting to go with the dance. The words being chanted in the Haka vary depending on what the Haka is being used for.

The Haka war dance is one of the few dances that are based on only having men dancers, though customs are being modernized to include female dancers. The original Haka war dance was performed by a warrior chief named Te Rauparaha. The dance when performed during war was called the Peruperu. The Haka war dance was performed to impress the gods of Maori where if the onslaught from the enemy was survived then followed a jubilant dance of the escape. On the spiritual side, the feelings established by partaking in the Haka war dance are courage, joy, strength, honor, etc. The Haka is performed to spiritually link the Maori people to their ancestors and each other. This is why this dance is sacred and shouldn't be used for the wrong reasons.

BYU and the Haka:

The video above is showing us that the Haka is widely accepted by rugby. Players continue to demonstrate the spiritual significance of the Haka as a pre-game ritual.