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.