Notes

1 volume (unpaged) : colour illustrations ;27 cm

'This is the story of the haka 'Ka Mate,' composed by Te Rauparaha who was a chief of Ngāti Toa Rangatira. Ngāti Toa chief Te Rauparaha is pursued by his enemies and fears for his life. At Lake Rotoaira, he is hidden in a potato pit, and Te Rangikoaea, a woman of great power, sits in front of its entrance. As he listens in the dark, Te Rauparaha hears his enemies, but they cannot find him, and he climbs back to the sunlight. As he recounts this adventure to his people, his words are repeated and the haka rings out, passed down from generation to generation'--Publisher's information. In picture book format.
This is the story of the great Ngati Toa chief Te Rauparaha and how he came to compose the haka 'Ka Mate, Ka Mate'. Te Rauparaha is pursued across the island by his enemies and he fears for his life. At Lake Rotoaira, he is hidden in a kumara pit, and Te Rangikoaea, a woman of great power, sits in front of its entrance. As he hears his enemies approach, Te Rauparaha whispers in the dark 'Will I die? Will I live?'. His enemies cannot find him, and he climbs back to the sunlight. As he recounts this adventure to his people, his words are repeated and the haka rings out, and is now passed down from generation to generation.