Maoris rights to haka

Last week, in a move to prevent its commercial exploitation, the government of New Zealand assigned intellectual property rights to the Ka Mate haka. The rights were passed over to a North Island Maori tribe along with NZ $121 million and property in both the North and South Islands. Maori celebrations were invigorated last weekend (19-22nd Feb) at the Biennial Festival and the Kapa Haka Championships, where tens of thousands of people arrived in the town of Tauranga to delight in four days of performing arts, competitions, music, dance and chants.