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
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Maoris get their haka back
Baby replaces Fritz for France
Following the suspension of France center Florian Fritz, Head Coach Marc Lievremont has appointed Benoit Clermont baby would start in central Paris against Scotland on Saturday.
Fritz was a three-week ban on strikes in France in the Six Nations opening match against Ireland last weekend.
Perpignan son Maxime Mermoz, who was destined to join the squad when Fritz was quoted, has been named on the bench to fill the void left by the promotion of the baby.
"I am both disappointed and relieved," said Lievremont of Fritz'z suspension.
"Disappointed because [Fritz] will lose both Scotland and Wales games.
"It will serve as a lesson that Florian is an aggressive player who is a good thing. However, I think rugby is possible within the rules to hurt your opponent."
Meanwhile, Toulouse coach Guy Noves has lost no time in trying to take advantage of the situation, asking to be allowed Fritz to play for his club since he was suspended in an international match, having regard to concerns not Noves should be associated with the national rugby ...
France (revised): 15 Clement Poitrenaud, 14 Maxime Medard, 13 Benoît Baby, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Cédric Heymans, 10 Lionel Beauxis, 9 Sébastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, 5 Romain Millo -Chluski, 4 Lionel Nallet, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Fabien Barcella
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Renaud Boyoud, 18 Sébastien Chabal, 19 Louis Picamoles, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 Maxime Mermoz, 22 Julien Malzieu
Date: Saturday February 14
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Time: 16:00 (15:00 GMT)
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England), Tim Hayes (Wales)
TMO: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
