November 02, 2012
Tui winner proud to use Te Reo Māori
Tui award winner Ria Hall is proud she is able to give Te Reo Māori a wider audience.
Tauranga-born Hall, from Ngaiterangi, Ngati Ranginui and Ngāti Pukenga, beat out Upper Hutt Posse, Whirimako Black and Richard Nunns for the Best Māori Album in the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards in Auckland last night.
She credits producer Riki Gooch with encouraging her to make her language and culture an important part of her first solo album.
“For those people who say we lessen our chances using Te Reo Māori, I think there are a number of people that have made a huge mark using Te Reo Māori, Tiki Taane, Maisey Rika, Prince Tui Teka, Herbs. They have all been very forward and proud about being Māori and being brown so it’s something I am very willing and happy to take up and show the world what we’ve got,” Hall says.
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