Maoris get their haka back

After seeing it performed by Italian women in a car commercial, and gingerbread men in a bakery ad, the Maori tribe Ngati Toa, who originally gave New Zeland the 'Ka Mate' haka, has regained the intellectual property rights to the chant and war dance.

The New Zealand Government gave the rights back - along with NZ$121m ($64m) worth of land at the bottom of the north and top of the south islands - as a part of a settlement of a grievance dispute which has lasted 160 years.

The 'Ka Mate' haka originated from Ngati Toa's warrior chief Te Rauparaha in the early 19th Century after he escaped death while being chased by his enemies.

The tribe has made several abortive attempts to stop abuse of the haka - which is only allowed to be performed by men - over the past ten years, and there was widespread outrage at the Italian women advertisement which was said to have undermined the cultural role of the haka.

The agreement in place now does not extend to Ngati Toa benig able to veto the haka's use by New Zealanders, nor does it extend to being able to gather commercial rights for performances.

"It would be unacceptable for the Crown if there was a charge on New Zealanders or a restriction on New Zealanders for them to have a rendition of Ka Mate," Prime Minister John Key said to the Daily Telegraph.

"They (the All Blacks) are our national sports team and they have had the rendition of Ka Mate for a long time. I just don't count that in issues of commercial."

source : http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,3562_4913132,00.html