MEDIA ALERT
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4 February 2017
4 February 2017
Blacktown sets Australian Haka record
Blacktown is claiming the Australian Guinness Book of Records record for the Haka, after just under 2,000 people performed the chant this morning.
“The official count was 1,998 – which we are going to claim as the Australian record,” the Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Stephen Bali said.
“If not, it is certainly the record for the Haka performed on Waitangi Day in Blacktown.
“We fell short of the world record of 4,028 which is held by the French, but it was a good warm up for our next attempt.
“The best thing about it was the fact that it showed how multiculturalism is alive and well in Blacktown.
“We have people from 177 nationalities in the Council’s area and a fair cross section were at the Blacktown Showgrounds for the attempt.
“Everyone was an honorary Maori for the day, and there were Indian Maoris, Sudanese Maoris, Chinese Maoris and lots of Australian Maoris.
The record chant, staged by the Maori Wardens NSW branch, in partnership with Blacktown City Council, was staged at Blacktown Showground at 10:30am on Saturday, 4th February.
“The widely known “Ka Mate” version of the Haka was performed, which has a link to Blacktown through its New Zealand sister city, Porirua, the birthplace of its author, the Maori warrior Te Rauparaha.
The current Haka record of 4,028 was set in France by Frenchy rugby fans in September 2014; toppling the previous record of 3,264 set in New Zealand during 2008.
Blacktown City Council was the reporting agency for the Guinness Book of World Records, which has endorsed the attempt.
The world record attempt was part of a full day of celebrations at the Showground where a range of cultural activities took place, including singing and dancing and a formal observation of Waitangi Day.
Waitangi Day, named after Waitangi, where the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed, commemorates a significant day in the history of New Zealand.
It is observed as a public holiday each year on 6 February to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840.
Waitangi Day Festival is at the Blacktown Showground from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Brief History of the Ka Mate Haka
The Ka Mate Haka was composed by Te Rauparaha, a chief and war leader of the Maori Ngati Toa tribe, in about 1820.
The Ngati Toa’s area includes the modern day city of Porirua, which is one of Blacktown’s sister cities and Te Rauparaha is regarded as one of their most famous citizens.
Te Rauparaha composed the Ka Mate in about 1820 as a celebration of life over death after his lucky escape from pursuing enemies.
The Ka Mate Haka was composed by Te Rauparaha, a chief and war leader of the Maori Ngati Toa tribe, in about 1820.
The Ngati Toa’s area includes the modern day city of Porirua, which is one of Blacktown’s sister cities and Te Rauparaha is regarded as one of their most famous citizens.
Te Rauparaha composed the Ka Mate in about 1820 as a celebration of life over death after his lucky escape from pursuing enemies.
Editor's Notes: It is great news that in Blacktown LGA, we have med guiness book of records history. I wished we did reach the Guinness book of records amount - maybe next year. This just made me think that whenever the Haka is played in front of thousands in a stadium, isn't that a record itself?
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