The haka is a ceremonial dance performed by New Zealand rugby teams before international fixtures, and it is one of rugby’s best-known traditions. The haka is a Maori dance, and the word "haka" itself can be found in other Polynesian cultures meaning "dance". The most famous haka heard internationally is the Ka Mate Haka, which is performed by the national New Zealand rugby team, the All Blacks. The main body of the chant goes like this:

Ka Mate Haka Ka mate, ka mate! ka ora! ka ora! Ka mate! ka mate! ka ora! ka ora! Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru Nāna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā Ā, upane! ka upane! Ā, upane, ka upane, whiti te ra!

The English translation of the Ka Mate Haka is:

Ka Mate Haka I die! I die! I live! I live! I die! I die! I live! I live! This is the hairy man Who caused the sun to shine again for me Up the ladder! Up the ladder! Up to the top! The sun shines!

The All Blacks have two haka that they regularly perform: the "Ka Mate" and the "Kapa o Pango". Both are typically led by a player of Maori heritage, with scrum-half Aaron Smith currently the most common occupier of the role for Ian Foster’s side.