He taonga te reo.
The Auckland Arts Festival celebrates the richness of Māori song in this concert by some of our best popular singers including Stan Walker, Annie Crummer, Rob Ruha, Tami Neilson, and members of Maimoa.
Photo: Raymond Sagapolutele, Auckland Arts Festival
The Creative Director of the concert, Tama Waipara writes:
"Waiata are taonga. Precious and rich in history, waiata carry whakapapa, the many histories of our tīpuna – ancestral and genealogical links to knowledge passed down through generations, holding moments of longing and remembrance to the biting pain of loss. Waiata are our universities, classrooms and photo albums.
Waiata Māori have survived bans, beatings and legislative batterings. They have been chanted, sung and roared from one of end our land to the other. From faraway stadiums to the beating heart of our Marae this unbroken continuum of waiata and composition has held aloft our beautiful language – te reo Māori.
In today’s Aotearoa, our waiata are more potent and pertinent than ever, carrying the battle cries of struggle and inspiring the awe and delight of our contemporary times.
Once likened to me by my father as the throaty chuckle of kereru, te reo Māori is a language made for singing.
Tonight’s concert is a tribute to the artists and songs that continue to uplift te reo Māori and generously invite us all to participate."
The waiata are performed by Stan Walker, Annie Crummer, Moana Maniapoto, Maisey Rika, Rob Ruha, Tami Neilson, Seth Haapu, Maimoa, Whirimako Black, and Tū Te Manawa Maurea.
The band: Jol Mulholland (guitar, music director), Brett Adams (guitar), Allister Meffan (keyboards), Marika Hodgson (bass), Steven Thomas (drums).
The MCs: Stacey Morrison, Pio Terei
Presented for RNZ by Shannon Haunui-Thompson.
Auckland Arts Festival programme booklet, including words to songs.
Related
- Tama Waipara and Annie Crummer talk to Kirsten Johnstone
- Whirimako Black and Hinewehi Mohi on Nine to Noon
Te Hōtaka
BOBERG: Whakaaria mai - ngā tāngata katoa
WAIPARA, STEWART: Te Reo ō te Whenua - Tū Te Manawa Maurea
BLACK: Kei hea tāku reo - Whirimako Black
MANIAPOTO: AEIOU - Moana Maniapoto
CRUMMER: Language - Annie Crummer
NEILSON: I Cry myself to sleep - Tami Neilson
HAAPU, KEPA: Ngaru hōu - Seth Haapu
RUHA: Ka ihi te moana - Rob Ruha
GAGE: Ka Hurā - Maisey Rika
TAMIHANA: He kākano ahau - Maimoa
BLACK: E te kai - Whirimako Black
MANIAPOTO: Water People - Moana Maniapoto
N FINN: Moemoeā (Don't Dream it's over) - Seth Haapu, Stan Walker
SAMUEL, WALKER: Mai i te kihi ki te rōhi (Kiss from a Rose) - Stan Walker
TE RANGI PAI: Hine, e Hine - Maisey Rika
RUHA, KEELAN: Kalega - Rob Ruha
TEKA et al: Wairua - Maimoa
Recorded by RNZ in Auckland Town Hall, 16 March 2019
Recording, Mixing Engineer: Andre Upston; Producer: Tim Dodd
