Certain parts of New Zealand were a little noisy over the weekend, as New Zealanders got together - in a uniquely Kiwi fashion - to mark the one-year-to-go date for Rugby World Cup 2011.
In separate events, huge crowds gathered on a South Island beach, and on a sports ground in the central North Island for mass performances of ‘Ka Mate, Ka Mate’ - the Māori haka / challenge traditionally performed by the All Blacks before international rugby games.
While heavy spring rains did not dampen the spirits of thousands of Kiwis and visitors who turned out at Tahunanui Beach, Nelson, to attempt a Guinness World Record haka, there were not quite enough people to topple the 3264-people record set in 2008.
And at Lake Taupo, more than 1000 junior rugby players gathered to perform a mass haka to kick off a national rugby festival.
Haka record attempt Nelson’s haka organisers said the event had brought people together, and given international visitors a real taste of Kiwi culture.
To prepare for the world record attempt, chief organiser Mike Elkington and his team of haka experts spent weeks teaching more than 4000 people to do the haka.
"I’ve been training Kiwis and Germans and South Africans and Chinese … people from all walks of life to do the haka these past few weeks and I’ve been really affected by the incredible energy and enthusiasm they’ve all had about connecting to New Zealand’s iwi / tribal heritage," Elkington said.
"Every Kiwi travelling abroad gets asked about the haka, and now we have that many more ambassadors from Nelson out spreading the word about the Land of the Long White Cloud / New Zealand."
There were 2594 people on the beach for the record attempt, with a crowd of spectators looking on, and fresh spring temperatures did not deter many men from shedding their tops so they could perform in the traditional bare-chested manner - but not before observing a minute’s silence to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the Twin Towers.
The organisers are hoping to put together another world record haka attempt in February 2011.
Kids get behind RWC 2011 The Taupo ‘Ka Mate, Ka Mate’ haka kicked off the inaugural New Zealand Junior Rugby Tournament for under-10 and under-13 rugby teams from throughout the country.
The New Zealand Junior Rugby Festival is designed to give all kids the opportunity to play and meet other rugby playing kids from all over New Zealand and beyond to play together in a junior rugby tournament regardless of skill level or whether they are Rep players or not.
The tournament - the first of what will be an annual event - was held at the park after the haka and went on throughout the weekend.
Australians challenged Meanwhile, another group of Kiwis are planning another attempt at the Guinness World Record-breaking haka - across 'the ditch' and right on the doorstep of their Aussie cousins and rugby rivals, at the Sydney Olympic Park next June.
The scheduled 4 June, 2011 haka will coincide with Matariki - the Māori New Year, clebrated when the Pleiades star cluster rises.
The haka attempt will wrap up a day-long Kiwi Festival, showcasing the best of New Zealand food, wine, produce, music, film, art, theatre and talent.
Ka Mate, Ka Mate The ‘Ka Mate, Ka Mate’ haka - made famous by the All Blacks - was composed in the early 19th century by Māori warrior chief Te Rauparaha.
Te Rauparaha was fleeing an enemy tribe that was seeking retribution for a wrong he had committed. As he was chased across the central plateau of the North Island, fellow chief Te Wharerangi helped him hide in a kumara pit, and then instructed his wife to sit at the pit entrance.
After the enemy had moved on, Te Rauparaha emerged from the pit. To celebrate his lucky escape in front of Te Wharerangi and his people, he performed ‘Ka Mate, Ka Mate’, which he had composed while hiding.
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