KA MATE ORIGINS

One of the most recognised haka in the world, Ka Mate was composed by Ngāti Toa rangatira Te Rauparaha around 1820. Its origins sit deep within the oral histories of Ngāti Toa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa, carrying a story of survival, the power of women, protection and the triumph of life over death.

THE STORY OF KA MATE

Pursued by rival warriors, Te Rauparaha sought refuge with Te Wharerangi, who concealed him in a kūmara pit. Te Wharerangi’s wife, Te Rangikoaea, sat above the pit, shielding him both physically and spiritually. As the search party closed in, Te Rauparaha whispered “Ka mate, ka mate” (it is death, it is death). When they passed without discovering him, his words shifted to “Ka ora, ka ora” (it is life, it is life). 

Emerging from the darkness, he chanted the lines that would become Ka Mate, acknowledging the forces that protected him and celebrating his return into the light. 

While interpretations of the haka’s words vary, Ngāti Toa tradition holds that it honours not just the chief, Te Wharerangi, but the spiritual strength of a noble woman, Te Rangikoaea, whose presence ensured Te Rauparaha’s survival. The haka is, at its core, a story of resilience, gratitude and renewal.

KA MATE TODAY

Ka Mate has been part of New Zealand rugby’s identity for well over a century, first performed on international tours in the late 1800s and made iconic by the All Blacks ever since. In 1987, leaders like Wayne Shelford and Hika Reid helped restore its intensity and cultural integrity, shaping the powerful, unified performance seen today. 

More than a pre-match ritual, Ka Mate is a statement of intent. It connects the team to whakapapa, to each other, and to Aotearoa. It is a challenge laid down, a moment of unity, and a reminder that every contest begins long before the first whistle. 

Ka Mate continues to be performed by the All Blacks to this day, alongside Kapa o Pango, introduced in 2005, each haka carrying its own meaning and place within the team’s story.