In a first-of-its-kind indigenous encounter, a Maori kapa haka delegation from Aotearoa, New Zealand, performed the haka (dance) at the Medaram Sammakka-Saralamma tribal shrine in Mulugu district, while local Koya tribal cultural teams also held their regular performances. The historic performance, coinciding with the 77th Republic Day, added profound symbolic significance to the celebrations, highlighting the shared traditions of resilience, honour and ancestral pride, though the two countries

To celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, learn the words and translation of Ka Mate. Ka Mate was performed by the New Zealand Native team on their long and arduous tour of 1888/89, and by the “Original” All Blacks in 1905. Haka were traditionally then performed prior to All Blacks matches outside New Zealand through until 1986 when All Blacks Wayne “Buck” Shelford and Hika Reid were instrumental in introducing Ka Mate to matches in New Zealand from 1987, and ensuring that it was performed with passi