30 Aug 2012

Ngati Toa chief recognised as haka composer

8:34 pm on 30 August 2012

Lower North Island iwi Ngati Toa has initialled a deed of settlement recognising the tribe's ancestral chief as the composer of the haka Ka Mate Ka Mate.

In July this year, the tribe considered going to the Waitangi Tribunal over the famous national haka after the Intellectual Property Office rejected its bid to protect four phrases, saying it should remain in the public domain.

The Crown's redress offer signed in Parliament on Thursday is worth more than $75 million.

It includes financial redress, as well as giving Ngati Toa the first right of refusal to buy some Crown-owned land in Wellington.

The document also spells out Ngati Toa's connection to the haka.

The offer means it will introduce special legislation so when the haka is used publicly or in a commercial it must clearly and reasonably attribute it to Ngati Toa and composer Te Rauparaha.

All members of the public and sports teams will still be able to perform it, and the iwi won't be able to receive any royalties or compensation.

The deed needs to be ratified by the iwi and signed off before it can be introduced as a bill in Parliament.