Six60 has been announced as part of the line-up of Kiwi artists entertaining the crowds at this weekend’s attempt to claim the Guiness World Record title for the largest haka.
“Having one of New Zealand’s most successful bands join our line up is a dream come true. We are so grateful to have the support of all the artists, sponsors, event partners and everyone who has contributed to this event to make it a reality,” says Dame Hinewehi Mohi DNZM (Ngāti Kahungunu/Ngāi Tūhoe), cultural ambassador for HAKA and co-founder of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust.
“We hope that having Six60 making the commitment to be there excites people even more to get their ticket and join us.”
The current record is held by 4,028 people in France, performed 10 years ago. This new attempt will be held at Auckland’s Eden Park on September 29, and officially adjudicated by Guinness World Records.
Ten thousand Kiwis are encouraged to stand on the field and perform Aotearoa’s best-known haka, Ka Mate, composed by Te Rauparaha, chief of Ngāti Toa Rangatira, with spectator tickets available to watch the spectacle.
Six60 have been touring Europe and are scheduled to play this week in Paris and Amsterdam followed by two shows in Australia before returning to New Zealand to be a part of the Haka World Record event.
To ensure they are on home soil and can do their part in bringing this record home, they have moved their travel plans forward and will return directly after their performance on September 28.
The Haka World Record isn’t Six60’s first time working with Dame Hinewehi Mohi to champion waiata reo Māori, with the band one of the collaborators on the first Waiata Anthems album in 2019. Celebrating its fifth anniversary this month, Waiata Anthems featured Six60’s much loved track ‘Don’t Forget Your Roots’ translated into te reo Māori and rerecorded as ‘Kia Mau Ki Tō Ūkaipō’, which includes the haka Ka Mate. It will be the third time Six60 performs at Eden Park.
Starting at 6pm, the event will feature 16 of New Zealand’s top artists who represent the breadth of New Zealand’s bilingual musical talent, with the official record attempt set to take place later in the evening.
Joining Six60 are Alien Weaponry, Anika Moa, Che Fu, Corrella, Georgia Lines, Hollie Smith, Kings, Majic, Paige, PERE, Ria Hall, Rob Ruha, Shepherds Reign, Tami Neilson and the Topp Twins.
The nation-building occasion is part of the 20th-anniversary celebrations of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust, co-founded by Dame Hinewehi and named after her daughter Hineraukatauri.
The funds raised will enable the Trust to continue delivering life-changing music therapy to those who need it most and the event is being staged with the support of multiple agencies and sponsors standing united to reclaim the record.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is proud to be hosting this iconic event in Tāmaki Makaurau and support this unique celebration of Māori culture alongside other key partners including The Eden Park Trust, One New Zealand, Go Media, Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori, Aktive and Les Mills.
Get ready to haka
To make sure everyone participating performs Ka Mate authentically and accurately all participants will have access to a series of training videos to learn how to perform Ka Mate, including the differences for tāne (men) and wāhine (women). The training videos are provided as part of your ticket price.
Tickets to participate in this family friendly event and record attempt are on sale now at $10 per adult, $5 for concessions. Get your tickets www.hakarecord.co.nz.
For those who don’t want to miss out of the biggest event of the year, spectator tickets are available at $10 for adults and $5 for concessions to witness this historic event. Get your tickets www.hakarecord.co.nz
Tickets include free public transport to the event.
If you are outside of Tāmaki Makaurau or unable to be at Eden Park on the 29th September, you can ‘Haka at Home’ via a live streamed by Microsoft Teams event – register at Hakarecord.