‘National treasure’: New Zealand Māori haka protected in trade deal with UK

Traditional war dance, often performed by top sports teams, has been subject to controversial appropriation in the UK

It may not be enough to prevent the dance being butchered by dance troupes, in TikToks or at pub crawls, but a historic new UK-New Zealand free trade deal includes commitments from the UK to protect New Zealand's iconic haka, Ka Mate.

The deal is expected to boost New Zealand's GDP by $970m, and eventually lift tariffs on all its exports to the UK. But its provisions extend beyond the economic: unusually, it also notes a commitment by the UK to cooperate with New Zealand to identify appropriate ways to advance recognition and protection of the haka Ka Mate ... [and] acknowledge Ngti Toa Rangatira's [the leaders of Ngti Toa tribe's] guardianship of the haka".