2024 Māori Membership Wrap Up
2024 has been an incredibly busy year for our Māori membership team. Here is a wrap up of the various initiatives and programs that have run throughout the year to develop Māori songwriters, producers, and contribute to the revitalisation of waiata reo Māori.
TAUMATA PROGRAM
The Taumata Program was a 9-month program from Jan – September 2024, empowering 9 Māori songwriters by providing resources, mentorship, and platforms to help them excel. It focused on nurturing artists' careers, fostering creativity, and facilitating opportunities for them to compose new waiata reo Māori.
This group of artists featured Jordyn With A Why, MĀ, Majic, Mārei, MOHI, Dillastrate, Nikau Grace, TAWAZ and Chase Woods. During Mahuru Māori (September), the artists released their new waiata reo Māori/reo rua, culminating in a final live wrap-up performance in partnership with the Auckland Museum.
L-R: Jordyn With A Why, MĀ, Majic, Dillastrate, Mārei, MOHI, Nikau Grace, TAWAZ and Chase Woods
AOTEAROA SONGBOOK
The Aotearoa Songbook is a free digital resource, released in September, that seeks to preserve and celebrate the rich legacy of waiata Māori in Aotearoa.
Supported by APRA AMCOS NZ and the Ministry for Culture & Heritage, the project features 22 legacy waiata that were re-recorded at Big Fan Studios, Tāmaki Makaurau, in June of this year.
Directed by project lead Hana Mereraiha, the Aotearoa Songbook includes an album released on all digital platforms, along with lyric videos, musical scores, and background information about the waiata and composers.
The musical team included Noema Te Hau III as engineer, Pere Wihongi as music director and Maahani Maiava as the instrumentalist. The Tira Waiata (vocalists) for the project include: Pere Wihongi, Tuakoi Ohia, Metotagivale Schmidt-Peke, Kaaterama Pou, Maisey Rika, Awhimai Fraser, Elias Ashby, Piripi Gordon, Ricky-Lee Tapuni-Mitai.
The Aotearoa Songbook's 'Tōku Reo Tōku Ohooho' reaching #1 on the official Hot 20 Aotearoa Singles chart in November.
MANU TAIKO
Manu Tāiko was a unique wānanga tailored specifically to aspiring producers, taking place at Big Fan Studios in Auckland over three days in April (12-14).
Three seasoned producers, Noema Te Hau III, Brandon Haru, and Te Whiti Warbrick lead the program with their wealth of experience and expertise, mentoring and guiding six aspiring producer participants through the intricacies of music production while also having the opportunity to tito waiata Reo Māori.
MANU TAUPUNGA KI RUĀTOKI
Manu Taupunga ki Ruātoki was a Matariki 48 Hour Songwriting Challenge held May 31 - 2 June where seven urban artists immersed themselves in the beautiful taiao of Te Urewera.
This wānanga, reminiscent of 'city slickers in the bush,' involved renowned Tūhoe art-ivist Tame Iti and music legend Whirimako Black guiding the artists through their backyard in Ruātoki, sharing stories of ancestral traditions, the taiao (environment), and the significance of traditions in gathering kai (food) and fishing. This wānanga aligned perfectly with that year’s Matariki theme, Matariki Heri Kai, set by Professor Rangi Mātāmua.
“Manu Taupunga ki Ruatoki, doitz! Waimarie katoa tēnei hunga ki te noho tahi ki a Matua Tame me Whaea Whirimako. A weekend celebrating our history, our experiences & our future - perfect combo for songwriting.” – Jordyn With a Why
Participants: Jordyn With a Why, TAWAZ, MĀ, Dillastrate, Kings, Mārei, Chase Woods, Whirimako Black, Tame Iti.
Supported by NZ On Air
EMEBA WAIATA NAW
The Emeba Waiata Naw songwriting camp took place 23 - 26 September and concluded in October at 4000 Studios in Meanjin/Brisbane, bringing together 12 indigenous songwriters from Australia and Aotearoa.
Presented by NATSIMO and Te Tautāwhinga (APRA AMCOS NZ), the program fosters collaboration and celebrates Māori, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, focusing on songs in their native languages.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural Ipukarea program in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, this second edition builds on the cultural and musical connections between both whenua.
Participants: Ruth Smith, Kings, Brandon Haru, AJA, Laughton Kora, Chase Woods, Hylander, Zipporah, Christine Anu, Cassie, Jungaji, Dimple Bani Jr.
TAIRĀWHITI ALBUM
‘Te Ai o Te Rā' - This album, released on July 25th, celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Te Tairāwhiti and their unique ‘coastie’ style, while also paying homage to the trailblazers of composition from the region. The album was led by haka matriarchs Kuini Moehau Reedy and Tangiwai Ria.
In 2023 the first Kapa Haka SongHubs was held in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa, Gisborne with the purpose of encouraging kapa haka composers across Aotearoa to compose new anthems for their regions.
Earlier this year the participants gathered to record this album of kapa haka originals - the first release of its kind.
Songwriters and performers: Greg Koia, Haley Maxwell, Kuini Moehau Reedy, Kōkā Hauwai, Lewis Whaitiri, Makere Kupenga, Maumahara Horsfall, Mikaia Leach, Mātai Smith, Phil Tarawa, Raniera Samuels, Ruth Smith, Tame Tuari, Tangiwai Ria, Tatana Tuari, Te Amorutu Broughton, Te Rauhuia Ngata, Te Rina Kowhai, Tei Nohotima, Wayne Ngata, Kaea Hills, Gracie Kopua and Eruera Ria.
TE ARAWA
The Te Arawa Kapa Haka SongHubs which took place on the 8th of June in Rotorua, was an outstanding success, marking a transformative moment in the region’s musical and cultural landscape.
Under the expert curation of Kahurangi Milne and Te Tāepa Kāmeta, this kaupapa encouraged collaboration across different iwi and tāera haka which opened doors to new possibilities for Te Arawa kapa haka, blending traditional and contemporary forms in exciting new ways.
Prior to the Kapa Haka SongHubs, Te Arawa had not had the chance to work so closely and collaboratively on such a large scale. The event allowed iwi and kapa haka groups to come together, share their expertise, and create new works that are reflective of their collective identity. Now, inspired by the success of SongHubs, there is a strong desire within the region to continue this spirit of collaboration in future projects, strengthening the bonds between the various communities and advancing the rich cultural legacy of Te Arawa.
KAHUNGUNU
Curated by Kauwaka, the Kahungunu Kapa Haka SongHubs - Mātua Te Kupu, was held in Waimārama on the 25th of May. Waimārama is home to the amokapua of this SongHubs and soldier of te reo Māori, Tā Tīmoti Kāretu.
During the SongHubs participants were encouraged to compose new and vibrant songs that reflected the region's history and role in the revitalisation of te reo Māori across Aotearoa.
There were seven new waiata reo Māori and waiata Kapa Haka that were created by the various participants which ranged from waiata ngahau to waiata aroha, many of which have already been learnt by the region as new anthems. Some of these waiata also included the vocals and brilliant minds of Kahurangi Hinewehi Mohi, Tātere Mcleod and Anatipa Ainsley.