Over 6000 people performed Aotearoa’s best-known haka over the weekend, bringing back home the record for the world’s largest haka, which was previously held in France.
A total of 6531 people performed Ka Mate at Eden Park on Sunday night, surpassing the previous record which was set in France in 2014 (4028 people).
Among those attending the event were American TV host Conan O’Brien, director Taika Waititi and boxer David Tua.
O’Brien, on his first visit to New Zealand, told RNZ: “We got here yesterday, heard about all this, we were invited, and thought, ‘yes!’
“To see this many people come together and be unified is such a beautiful thing. Everyone here is so filled with the spirit.”
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, HAKA cultural ambassador Dame Hinewehi Mohi said she was “so proud of Aotearoa”.
Thousands of people took part in the haka at Eden Park in an attempt to create history. (Source: Whakaata Māori) (Source: Other)
“It was an incredible night, but the buildup and the sense of unity, kotahitanga, was absolutely ripe, and the opportunity to show the world our pride in our cultural heritage and how this is our unifying force,” she said. “And it’s a force to be reckoned with.”
Also in attendance was Sir Wayne “Buck” Shelford, who Dame Hinewehi said had a “really important role” when he was playing rugby in bringing the haka back to “great form”.
She said the event was “about the learning experience, and sharing, and caring”.
“And I just love the idea that our kids can lead the way in this because they are in kapa haka with their kura, and they absolutely have no sense of this not being a part of them.”