New Zealand has set the world record for the most people to perform the haka, a dance of the country’s indigenous Maori people. The title has been reclaimed from France.
The record attempt was held in Auckland’s Eden Park, where 6,531 people performed the dance. It surpassed the record of 4,028 people held by France since 2014.
The haka was traditionally a way to welcome visiting tribes or energise warriors ahead of battle. It is now performed at important events and is part of the New Zealand rugby team’s pregame ritual.
The type of haka performed for the world record is the most well-known. It was composed around 1920 by Te Rauparaha, chief of the Ngati Toa iwi or tribe.
