On Saterday I was fortunate to attend the Test between the Springboks and the All Blacks in Bloemfontein! Just before the Test Match the All Blacks performed the Haka – one of the most memorable traditions in world rugby!
I was sitting next to my friend Denholm Harding from the well known band Just Jinjer and we both enjoyed witnessing the Haka live and with the players facing in our direction!
But what do the words actually mean? I found information on the history and some of the controversies about the Haka on Wikipedia and would like to share this with some of my rugby mates!
Published words and the NZRU explanation
“Kapa o Pango”
| Kapa o Pango kia whakawhenua au i ahau! | All Blacks, let me become one with the land |
| Hī aue, hī! Ko Aotearoa e ngunguru nei! |
This is our land that rumbles |
| Au, au, aue hā! It’s my time! | It’s my moment! |
| Ko Kapa o Pango e ngunguru nei! | This defines us as the All Blacks |
| Au, au, aue hā! | It’s my time! It’s my moment! |
| I āhahā! Ka tū te ihiihi | Our dominance |
| Ka tū te wanawana | Our supremacy will triumph |
| Ki runga ki te rangi e tū iho nei, tū iho nei, hī! | And be placed on high |
| Ponga rā! | Silver fern! |
| Kapa o Pango, aue hī! | All Blacks! |
| Ponga rā! | Silver fern! |
| Kapa o Pango, aue hī, hā! | All Blacks! |
| Words chanted on field, and their literal interpretation | |
| Taringa whakarongo! | Let your ears listen |
| Kia rite! Kia rite! Kia mau! Hī! | Get ready…! Line up…! Steady…! Yeah! |
| Kia whakawhenua au i ahau! | Let me become one with the land |
| Hī aue, hī! | (assertive sounds to raise adrenaline levels) |
| Ko Aotearoa e ngunguru nei! | New Zealand is rumbling here |
| Ko Kapa o Pango e ngunguru nei! | The Team in Black is rumbling here |
| Au, au, aue hā! I āhahā! Ka tū te Ihiihi |
Stand up to the fear |
| Ka tū te Wanawana | Stand up to the terror |
| Ki runga ki te rangi, | To the sky above,! |
| E tū iho nei, tū iho nei, hī! | Fight up there, high up there. Yeah! |
| Ponga rā! | The shadows fall! |
| Kapa o Pango, aue hī! | Team in Black, yeah! |
| Ponga rā! | Darkness falls! |
| Kapa o Pango, aue hī, hā! | Team in Black, Yeah, Ha! |
Also view:
• Spectator Survival Guide on the Road to the Sports Stadium
[ View more photos of the Test from Gerhard Steenkamp of Superimage Media]