September 06, 2017
Maori music legends honoured
The Waiata Maori Music Awards turn 10 this month, and the milestone will be marked with posthumous awards to three giants of Maori music.
An industry award will go to Bunny Walters, who had a string of hits through the 1970s, including Brandy and Take the Money.
The Ngaiterangi singer died in December.
Tomairangi Paki, who died in April, will be honoured with the Keeper of Tradition award for her contribution to kapa haka over four decades performing with and tutoring Waikato group Taniwharau.
And the whanau of Wiremu Te Tau Huata, who died in 1991, will accept the Music Composer’s Award on his behalf at the September 15 ceremony in Hastings.
Canon Huata, a chaplain to the 28 Maori Battalion, composed many songs that have become Maori anthems, such as Tutira Mai Nga Iwi, Pa Mai, A.E.I.O.U., and his translation of How Great Thou Art into Whakaaria Mai.
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