Wherever you witness a Māori haka performance, you will be enveloped by the wairua (spirit) of haka. Be prepared to feel a range of emotions, spinetingling sensations, immersion and power.
The traditional Māori haka is a source of pride for all New Zealanders. It is performed all around the world, most famously by the All Blacks and the New Zealand Defence Force. Yet despite the haka’s international reputation, few people understand its origins and meanings.
Traditionally, haka was a way to welcome and entertain visiting tribes, but it also served to prepare warriors before heading into battle. It was a show of physical prowess but also an embodiment of cultural pride, strength, and unity.
Haka can be translated as dance, but it is not a dance in the sense you might imagine. Usually performed in a group, haka involves chanting and actions, such as waewae takahia (stamping), hand movements, and facial gestures, including pūkana (bulging eyes) and whetero (sticking out of the tongue).
Haka varies by tribal region, with many haka telling the story of significant events in an iwi’s (tribe’s) history.
Today, haka is a representation of mana (prestige) and respect. Haka is performed on important occasions, such as weddings, funerals and at pōwhiri (a traditional welcome). Haka is performed for different reasons, both serious and celebratory and is woven into the fabric of the community. Haka can be performed by Māori and non-Māori alike including at schools, cultural events, graduations and even as a form of protest – like Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke did in the New Zealand Parliament.
Embraced by popular culture, musician Stan Walker and the band Six60 among others, have incorporated haka into their performances or music. Schools and universities take part in kapa haka (Māori performing arts) competitions, where haka is a key component. The best rōpū (groups) compete and entertain at the largest bi-annual kapa haka (Māori performing arts) festival in the world, Te Matatini.
Haka has its origins in Māori legend. Tama-nui-te-rā (the sun) and the goddess of summer Hine-Raumati, had a son named Tānerore, who is the god of haka. During summer, Tānerore dances for his mother, and can be seen as the quivering air on the horizon during hot days. In haka, the energy of Tānerore is symbolised by the gesture wiri (trembling hands), which is a common action in many haka.
Ka Mate is the haka often performed by the All Blacks. It begins with ‘Ka mate, ka mate, ka ora, ka ora’, which translates to ‘I die, I die, I live, I live.’
One can only imagine how Ngāti Toa Chief Te Rauparaha felt when he first chanted these words 200 years ago. He had just evaded capture by a rival iwi (tribe) and was given shelter by another iwi, who hid him underground in a kūmara (sweet potato) pit. Ka Mate tells this story, describing how Te Rauparaha shook off adversity to emerge from the pit of darkness into the light.
Te Rauparaha went on to evade capture a few more times and to become a great military leader, helping to expand Ngāti Toa's territory across the lower North Island.
Famously, the All Blacks, Aotearoa New Zealand’s national rugby team, begins each test match with haka. This has been part of their routine for 120 years, helping them to establish one of the greatest victory statistics in global sport. Of 651 tests, the All Blacks won 77 percent of their test matches by the end of the 2024 rugby season.
Haka gives the All Blacks a psychological edge over their opponents. As a ritual, haka unites the players and focuses them on their shared purpose of winning the game. It connects them to the legacy of the great teams who have gone before, inspiring them to continue that legacy for future generations.
But if haka gives the All Blacks an advantage on the sports field, this is of secondary importance. Above all, haka has a more traditional purpose: the representation of cultural pride, storytelling, collective strength, and unity.
The Black Ferns, New Zealand's premier women's rugby team, also perform haka. Their haka Ko Ūhia Mai (Let It Be Known) was created specifically for them by Whetū Tipiwai, a respected community leader. The Black Ferns have won six Women’s Rugby World Cups. They are considered one of the most dominant teams in rugby with a winning percentage greater than the All Blacks (85 percent of test matches).
Experience powerful, compelling haka performances by the top rōpū (groups) at the largest bi-annual kapa haka (Māori performing arts) festival in the world, Te Matatini(opens in new window). It’s a great honour to be selected to perform at Te Matatini, where rōpū (groups) represent their region, iwi (tribes) and whānau (family) on the world stage.
Te Matatini has risen in popularity, and attracts crowds of thousands from Aotearoa as well as overseas. Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue were crowned the champions in 2025. The next Te Matatini competition is in 2027.