If you are heading over to New Zealand’s South Island in September, don’t miss the opportunity to see an awesome attempt to break the Guinness World record at mass haka.
Put a bunch of rugby-loving Kiwis together for a while, and you’re bound to witness a rousing Māori haka at some stage. And that’s just what thousands of South Islanders are planning to do come 3pm on 11 September – marking one year to go until the 2011 Rugby World Cup – as they attempt to shatter the Guinness World Record for the world’s biggest haka.

Communities throughout Te Tau Ihu – the northern half of New Zealand’s South Island – have been invited to gather on Tahunahui Beach, Nelson, to perform the famous ‘Ka mate, Ka mate’ haka.

Haka organiser Mike Elkington says that local iwi / Māori tribe has formed a group to ensure that they break the current world record – which was set by 3,264 people in Ngaruawahia, in the North Island, on 16 February, 2008.

As the September 11 date also commemorates the anniversary of the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre, there will be a minute’s silence before the haka to acknowledge American manuhiri / visitors to New Zealand, and remember the victims of the attacks.

The world’s biggest haka attempt will be a fantastic opportunity for New Zealand to share its Māori culture with a wider global audience, Mike Elkington says.

“The haka is our way of gathering our energy to welcome the world, readying ourselves for all that we are going to offer the world. We want everyone coming to the ‘land of the long white cloud’ next year for the World Cup to hear our combined voices, welcoming them as they prepare to journey to New Zealand.”
Perched on the northwest corner of the South Island, Nelson is one of the Top 10 destinations in New Zealand and proudly claims to be the nation’s sunniest spot.

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New Zealand’s Tasman Glacier cracks up and puts on a spectacular show -
Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake in the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, South Island NZ

Millions of tonnes of glacial icebergs are providing a rare spectacle on the Tasman Glacier terminal lake, in New Zealand’s South Island.

Spring melt over the last few days has seen 30 – 50 million tonnes of ice crash off the Tasman Glacier’s terminal face – a massive ‘calving’ that has produced 20 significant icebergs which are now floating in the terminal lake.

Local tourism operator Glacier Explorers, which takes passengers on cruises on the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake, will resume seasonal operations next week (3.09.2010) – one month ahead of schedule to take advantage of the magnificent new icebergs.
Passengers this year are likely to get a trip of a lifetime as a result of the calving.
Visitors could look forward to the most spectacular iceberg and glacier cruising season yet, according to Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Village tourism manager, Denis Callesen.

“The scale of what’s happening here is just enormous. The biggest ‘berg is about 300m by 200m and 40m high – and that’s only the 10 per cent of the berg that we can see. Ninety per cent is below the waterline.”

Callesen said the icebergs were “nature in action” and had taken on a life of their own “flipping, turning and moving as natural forces take action.”
The current calving will give us ice to study for the next two seasons at least.”

Iceberg cruising on Lake Tasman is a ‘must-do’ activity for visitors to Aoraki Mount Cook. Apart from the icebergs, there are also spectacular alpine views and some of the best photographic opportunities in the national park.

Glacier Explorers 75-minute voyage offers a close up and personal view as the boat moves between the constantly moving icebergs. www.glacierexplorers.com

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