NZR tells sponsors to show respect for haka

Ahead of the World Cup starting later this month, New Zealand Rugby has sent a clear message to its sponsors and partners to treat the haka ‘Ka Mate’ with respect, and ensure they acknowledge the iwi who created it.

The haka ‘Ka Mate’ is wellknown around the world thanks to the All Blacks.

The pre-game ritual has been mocked and misused time and again by Rugby World Cup sponsors, such as in a Heineken beer television ad, and a ‘hakarena’ ad featuring members of the English rugby team in 2015.

The Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act requires any publication of the haka Ka Mate – for commercial purposes – to acknowledge its composer, the Nga¯ ti Toa chief Te Rauparaha.

The attribution must be clearly visible on the product, unless an agreement is reached with the iwi, but the law doesn’t apply overseas.

Luke Crawford, the cultural adviser to the All Blacks, said New Zealand Rugby had met with its sponsors and partners to make sure they knew what was expected of them.

‘‘The way that we would expect is that they attribute the haka to Te Rauparaha, as the composer, and to Nga¯ti Toa Rangatira,’’ he said.

‘‘The other thing too is, where it’s appropriate, we’ll also push them to Nga¯ ti Toa, and [say] that they should be having conversations directly with Nga¯ ti Toa.’’

He said the players also knew what was expected of them when performing the haka.

‘‘The team have a guardianship group that actually oversee not only ‘Ka Mate’, but now ‘Kapa o Pango’ as well. That’s how seriously they take it.

‘‘There’s always a ko¯rero about the appropriateness of where and when it should be performed. It’s very, very special to them. It’s the haka matua for the All Blacks team because it’s been with us for so long.’’

Te Ru¯ nanga o Toa Rangatira chair Taku Parai said he was pleased NZ Rugby had made an effort to ensure its partners used it appropriately.

‘‘That’s hugely significant because sponsors, especially the big ones, they don’t like to have barriers put around in terms of how they want to promote.

‘‘It’s big for New Zealand Rugby to pull them up on different aspects, in terms of what they know and understand about how we feel the haka ought to be used.’’

Some people in New Zealand are still not getting the message, however. Last week, artist Dick Frizzell came under fire for advertising a T-shirt line printed with the lyrics of ‘Ka Mate’.

Aroha Mead, a specialist in Ma¯ori intellectual property rights, said while the Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act was a huge leap forward for Ma¯ ori, it did not go far enough.

‘‘The legislation in its current form actually forbids Nga¯ ti Toa from making any financial compensation. That’s actually contrary to the principles of intellectual property.

‘‘People don’t even know that it even exists. They’re still taking [and] they’re still using. And we need to really strengthen the legislation.’’

She said anyone thinking of using ‘Ka Mate’ should carefully read the legislation, and consult with Nga¯ ti Toa Rangatira, to ensure they upheld the mana of the iwi.

– RNZ