News | Rugby
1 Oct 2024 10:34
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Sports > Rugby

    NZ reclaims Guinness World Record for most people performing the haka

    The record was previously held by France, who broke it in 2014 with more than 4,000 attempting the haka after a rugby match.


    Aotearoa, New Zealand has reclaimed the world record for the largest haka participation with more than 6,000 people performing the Maori ceremonial dance and taking the title from France.

    On Sunday, the record was smashed at Eden Park stadium in Auckland, where thousands of people gathered on the rugby pitch to participate in the haka.

    There were a few famous faces within the crowd to help reclaim the world record, including actor and director Taika Waititi, NZ band Six60 and US TV host Conan O'Brien.

    A Guinness World Record adjudicator confirmed 6,531 participants had performed the Ka Mate haka, a rendition made famous by the All Blacks rugby team, who used to perform it to the opposing team before a test match.

    The All Blacks team now perform Kapa O Pango, which they first used in 2005 during a test match against South Africa.

    Kapa O Pango was written for the team by Sir Derek Lardelli, who is from the iwi (tribe) Ngati Porou and is an expert in Tikanga Maori (Maori expert and customs).

    Why is the haka so important to New Zealanders?

    Although Auckland organisers had hoped for up to 10,000 participants, they were still pleased the record had been reclaimed by New Zealand, where the haka is regarded as a national treasure.

    "We want to bring the mana [pride] of the haka back home," Michael Mizrahi, director of the Auckland attempt, told AFP.

    "It's not just that we want to take it off the French, it's like a national treasure that somebody has taken from us. It's got enormous meaning for us as New Zealanders."

    "Some things should be culturally sacred," Mr Mizrahi told AFP.

    Previous attempts involving crowds of more than 5,000 on New Zealand soil failed because Guinness World Records officials did not ratify them, Mr Mizrahi said.

    Why did France have the World Record in the first place?

    The world record had been held by France since September 2014, when 4,028 people slapped their thighs and bellowed the chant following a rugby match in Brive-la-Gaillarde, south-western France.

    French woman Diane Clayton, who moved to Aotearoa, New Zealand 20 years ago told Te Ao Maori News, that she was confused as to why the record was held in France in the first place.

    "For me, it was like if someone said the record for the biggest number of people singing La Marseillaise was in New York, I'd be like, what the heck?"

    She said people need to understand that haka is telling the story of your land and your people.

    "I think people focus too much on the physical aspect of it because it looks like a war dance and it's very expressive, but it's so meaningful," she told Te Ao Maori News.

    "There is a real danger that people completely skip that part, which is essential."

    A YouTube video shared of France's attempt in 2014 appears to show that some of the participants attempted to draw Ta Moko (tattoos) on their faces, which is culturally inappropriate as Ta Moko are traditional markings for Maori people that tell the stories of their lives.

    This time around, an adjudicator was flown to Auckland.

    The Ka Mate haka was composed around 1820 by the warrior chief Te Rauparaha to celebrate his escape from a rival tribe's pursuing war party.

    Under New Zealand law, a Maori tribe, the Ngati Toa, based in Porirua just outside Wellington, are recognised as the cultural guardians of the Ka Mate haka.


    ABC




    © 2024 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

     Other Rugby News
     01 Oct: A huge test looms for the Black Ferns to try and salvage their WXV rugby campaign in Vancouver
     30 Sep: Former Ireland centre Johnny Sexton has pointed the finger at All Blacks opposite Rieko Ioane for instigating a heated exchange immediately after New Zealand's 28-24 quarterfinal win at last year's Rugby World Cup
     30 Sep: The Haka World Record attempt is being celebrated as a commemoration of togetherness and culture
     29 Sep: Breakers centre Freddie Gillespie's relishing the competitive nature of his positional group ahead of tonight's NBL basketball home opener against South East Melbourne in Auckland
     29 Sep: A message from coach Scott Robertson to the All Blacks being released to their NPC teams next weekend
     29 Sep: Points a plenty in the first half of the NPC fixture between North Harbour and Canterbury in Albany
     29 Sep: Wallace Sititi has again earned special praise from All Blacks coach Scott Robertson after another leading performance
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A huge test looms for the Black Ferns to try and salvage their WXV rugby campaign in Vancouver More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Supermarket giant Foodstuffs has been denied permission to merge its North Island and South Island co-operatives More...



     Today's News

    National:
    Voters without kids are in the political spotlight – but they’re not all the same 10:27

    Motoring:
    Speed limit signs on the Kapiti Expressway are expected to change throughout this month 10:27

    Politics:
    The ‘world’s mayor’ – how Michael Bloomberg uses philanthropy to change the way cities are run 10:17

    Entertainment:
    Amanda Seyfried's daughter is "obsessed" with 'Mamma Mia!' 10:09

    National:
    Why it’s becoming harder to get super-rich in China 10:07

    Living & Travel:
    Changes are on the cards to help improve wildlife protection in Canterbury's Waimakariri District 10:07

    Entertainment:
    Peter Andre is "very excited" to have landed a new TV role 9:39

    Business:
    Supermarket giant Foodstuffs has been denied permission to merge its North Island and South Island co-operatives 9:27

    International:
    Israel ground invasion of Lebanon appears imminent as Hezbollah says 'we are ready' 8:27

    Sailing:
    Neither Luna Rossa or INEOS Britannia have been able to break away after six races of the America's Cup challenger series final off Barcelona 8:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd