Maori ritual: New Zealand takes back the Haka world record

As of: September 30, 2024 10:23 a.m

Stick out your tongue, open your eyes and rhythmically beat your thighs with your hands while singing loudly: This is the Haka, the impressive dance ritual of the New Zealand Maori. 6,531 people danced it in Auckland – a new world record.

The Haka is probably the best-known dance ritual of the New Zealand Maori. It is almost always celebrated in groups – but never in such large numbers as at the weekend in Eden Park in New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland.

6,531 people gathered for the common haka, setting a world record. Guinness judge Brian Sobel confirmed this. The previous record holder was France. In 2014, after a rugby game, 4,028 men and women gathered near Toulouse for a haka.

More than 6,500 people dance the haka in Auckland.

“Let’s bring home the haka”

“Let us stand together as a nation and bring home the haka,” was the motto on the website set up specifically for the record attempt. “Haka is an important part of our culture and it was crucial to bring the honor of this world record from the French back to the land of its origins and ensure that it is performed correctly and with integrity,” emphasized musician Dame Hinewehi Mohi , one of the organizers.

The project was launched by the non-profit organization Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust. This has been helping people with mental illnesses through music therapy since 2004. Many non-Maori as well as prominent New Zealand musicians and athletes also flocked to Eden Park.

World famous through rugby

The Haka was carried all over the world by the country’s national rugby team: the “All Blacks” perform the fearsome ritual before every game. Images and videos of the players dressed all in black, rolling their eyes at the opposing team and sticking their tongues out, have been going around the world for years.

The “All Blacks” traditionally perform the “Ka Mate” haka, which was written around 1820 by Maori tribal leader Te Rauparaha. According to legend, he barely escaped persecution from a rival tribe. The most important line of text is: “Ka mate, ka mate, ka ora, ka ora”, in German something like “I will die, I will die, I will live, I will live.” The Ka Mate was also chosen for the record attempt in Auckland.

New Zealand players perform the haka before the Rugby Championship test match between South Africa and New Zealand.

Non-Maori also take part in the haka

The Haka is often referred to as a war dance, but this is not entirely true. It was also used before battles to prepare the warriors both mentally and physically for the battle. But it was also performed when tribes came together peacefully.

Today the ritual, considered one of the deepest and most important in all of Maori culture, is performed on a variety of occasions to emphasize its importance – including weddings, funerals, graduations and welcoming ceremonies.

Non-Maori are also invited to learn the ancient ritual. But it is important to Indigenous New Zealanders that he is treated with due respect. In recent years, however, there has been repeated anger because foreigners – but also New Zealanders themselves – have publicly denigrated the haka.

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