Thousands of people shout and show their tongues: What's going on here?

Auckland (New Zealand) - Ten years ago, more than 4000 Frenchmen set a world record that did not trigger feelings of happiness everywhere. Yesterday, Sunday, France was knocked off its throne. Finally, say the new (and rightful) record holders.

But what is it actually about? It's simple: the inhabitants of New Zealand felt they had been stepping on someone's toes for a decade.

As the AFP news agency reported, back in September 2014, 4028 people performed a dance together near Toulouse after a rugby match.

Not just any dance, however, but the world-famous haka, the Maori war dance. For the indigenous people of New Zealand, the record set in Europe was an affront. Every effort was made to wrest the title back from the French. On Sunday they got their revenge.

6531 men, women and children met in a rugby stadium in Auckland and danced themselves into a frenzy. With loud stomping, tongues outstretched and eyes wide open, they brought the world record "home" again.

"Haka is an important part of our culture and it was crucial to bring the honour of this world record back from the French to the country of its origins," emphasized one of the organizers.

Radio New Zealand cheered the record attempt with a tongue-in-cheek French "Au revoir!".

For New Zealanders, their war dance is a cultural asset. Despite its long history, the haka is more than just folklore. The All Blacks, the New Zealand rugby team, for example, still celebrate the dance today as a terrifying ritual before every game. The haka is also used to spread fear and terror on the political stage.

Warrior chief Te Rauparaha had the "Ka Mate Haka" composed around 1820. Today, a Maori tribe near Wellington is the cultural guardian of the dance by law.