The Meaning & The Mana
This pre-game ritual has been electrifying audiences around the world for more than 100 years. If you’ve ever attended an All Blacks match, you’ll know the collective hush that falls over the stadium as the players unite in formation to perform the haka. The sense of occasion, the emotion expelled and absorbed, the echo of body percussion, and the pride felt by New Zealanders near and far—this embodiment of Māori culture is so much more than a war dance. This is the haka.
A powerful tradition, the haka prepares our national teams mentally, physically, and spiritually for battle on the rugby field. It is a challenge issued, a commitment declared, and a profound connection forged with heritage and fans alike. At the All Blacks Experience, you’ll step into the intensity, passion, and legacy of the haka with a life-size, fully immersive digital face-off on the halfway line. Have you got what it takes?
Understanding the All Blacks Haka For the All Blacks, the haka is a powerful way to honour Māori culture and the land they come from. More than a ritual, it’s a moment of unity. Players often speak of the connection it forges with their teammates, calling
Ka Mate - An Iconic Call to Life
Nostalgia for any weathered fan. The All Blacks' most famous haka, Ka Mate, was composed by Ngāti Toa tribe chief, Te Rauparaha, around 1820. Its powerful message speaks of the triumph of life over death, a sentiment that perfectly translates to the rugby field: overcoming adversity and emerging victorious. A hallmark of the All Blacks' legacy.
Kapa o Pango: A New Legacy
In 2005, the All Blacks were gifted an original haka, Kapa o Pango, meaning 'Team in Black.' This brother to Ka Mate was written for the All Blacks by Sir Derek Lardelli KNZM, an expert in tikanga Māori (Māori culture and customs) of the Ngāti Porou iwi (tribe.)
This powerful haka embodies the history, legacy, and mana (prestige) of the All Blacks, with its English translation declaring, 'It is my time, it is my moment. Our dominance rises, our supremacy emerges.' While Kapa o Pango features different movements to Ka Mate, it is performed with the same intensity and pride. The All Blacks alternate between Ka Mate and Kapa o Pango at the team's discretion.
On Kapa o Pango, Lardelli notes: “This haka, in particular, is not a war dance — it’s ceremonial. It’s about building a person’s confidence inwardly, their spiritual side… It says: ‘This is my time in the black jersey. This is my time to express myself as a player, on behalf of my country.’”
The Haka's Rich History
Traditionally, the Māori people of New Zealand performed haka to display a tribe’s pride, strength, and unity. While commonly known as a war dance used to fire up warriors on the battlefield, the haka is also a customary way to celebrate, entertain, welcome, and challenge visiting tribes.
The very first New Zealand representative rugby team, known as The Natives, performed a haka – the now famous Ka Mate – during a tour of Britain and Australia in 1888-89. For many years, the haka was only performed by the All Blacks when they played overseas. It wasn’t until 1986 that the haka became a regular fixture in home matches, evolving into the precise, respectful, and passionate performance we know and revere today.
The Black Ferns Haka: Ko Uhia Mai
Haka isn’t reserved for men. New Zealand’s premier women’s rugby team, the mighty Black Ferns, perform their own unique haka, Ko Uhia Mai. It speaks to the pride, strength, and unity they share as a team, a powerful expression of their mana and presence on the international stage.
Learn the Haka: Meanings & Movements
Want to understand the powerful words of the haka? Dive deeper into the meaning behind Ka Mate, Kapa o Pango, and Ko Uhia Mai. Discover the Māori and English lyrical translations and learn more about this iconic cultural performance.