"Ka Mate" is a Māori haka attributed to Te Rauparaha, war leader of the Ngāti Toa tribe from Aotearoa, New Zealand to celebrate his escape from death in a battle in the early 1800s. The haka is an action chant, or "war dance",originally performed by warriors before a battle, proclaiming their strength and prowess. The "Ka Mate" haka is about the cunning ruse a Māori chief used to outwit his enemies, and may be interpreted as a celebration of the triumph of life over death.

“Ka Mate”

Leader: Taringa whakarongo!   Listen up with your ears!
  Kia rite, kia rite!   Prepare yourself, Prepare yourself!
  Kia mau, hī!   Hands on hips, bend the knees!
  Ringa ringa pakia   Slap the hands against the thighs!
  Waewae takahia kia kino nei hoki!   Stamp the feet as hard as you can!
Team: Kia kino nei hoki!   As hard as you can
Leader: Ka mate, ka mate

  'Tis death, 'tis death (or: I may die)
Team: Ka ora, ka ora   'Tis life, 'tis life (or: I may live)
Leader: Ka mate, ka mate   'Tis death, 'tis death
Team: Ka ora, ka ora   'Tis life, 'tis life
All: Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru   This the hairy man that stands here...
  Nāna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā   Who brought the sun and caused it to shine
  Ā upane, ka upane   A step upward, another step upward
  Ā upane, ka upane   A step upward, another step upward
  Whiti te rā, hī!   The sun shines!