If you've heard of the New Zealand rugby team, the "All Blacks", then you've probably heard of "Ka Mate", the haka performed before rugby matches for decades, striking fear into their opponents.
The "Ka Mate" haka was first performed by the New Zealand Native rugby team in 1888, and then by the “Original” All Blacks in 1905. But it wasn't until 1987 that the iconic "Ka Mate" became the haka of choice by the All Blacks performed at the beginning of every match.
"Ka Mate" was not created for, or by, the rugby team however. It has a longer history reaching back to Maori inter-tribal conflicts.
Around 1820, Ngati Toa Chieftain Te Rauparaha journeyed from Kawhia to seek alliances with other tribes. When he arrived in Taupo he was told by Te Heu Heu, the Paramount Chief of Tuwharetoa that he was being pursued by a war party who were seeking revenge. Te Heu Heu directed Te Rauparaha to Lake Rotoaira to seek protection from his relative Te Wharerangi
Upon arrival at Opotaka, Te Wharerangi instructed Te Rauparaha to seek refuge in a kumara (sweet potato) pit and for his wife, Te Rangikoaea to sit on top in order to conceal him from his enemies.
Guided by their Tohunga (scholar/priest) the rival warriors searched for Te Rauparaha and as they drew near, he muttered “Ka Mate Ka Mate” (It is death, it is death). Concealed from the Tohunga by the spiritual powers of both food and the woman above, Te Rauparaha was not discovered, and as the searchers passed overhead he muttered “Ka ora Ka ora” (It is life, it is life).
Te Wharerangi eventually convinced the pursuers that Te Rauparaha had escaped towards Taranaki, and they gave up their search. When the warriors finally departed Te Rauparaha was able to climb up out of the kumara pit chanting “Tenei te tangata puhuruhuru nana nei i tiki mai whaka whiti te ra”. And this formed the basis of Te Rauparaha's composition of "Ka Mate".
There are many interpretations of these words and “tangata puhuruhuru” may be a reference to the hairy man (Te Wharerangi), but Ngāti Toa oral tradition holds that Te Rauparaha was giving credit to the spiritual power of Te Rangikoaea as he ascended (Upane, Kaupane) from the darkness of the pit into the light of the sun (Whiti te ra! Hi!).
All of this happened just a short distance from this geocache, which is located at the entrance to the Opotaka Historic Reserve on the shores of Lake Rotoaira. This reserve encompasses an ancient kainga (settlement) site where the events described above took place, and the "Ka Mate" haka composed by Te Rauparaha, more than 200 years ago.
You are looking for a small magnetic geocache containing logbook only. BYOP.