September 16, 2019
Wihongi feeds hunger for Māori music
The winner of the best Māori solo artist tohu in this year's Waiata Māori Music Awards says he's feeding a hunger for Māori music.
Pere Wihongi also returned to the winners' podium with his bands Te Kākano, which won the te reo Māori album award, and Maimoa, which won Radio Airplay Song of the Year with Kawea.
To round out the night his Tōrea won the best song award.
He says the awards encourage Māori musicians to give more options to the whānau who are making the commitment to listen to Māori music.
"Plenty of parents are feeding their children Māori language songs or any Māori language resource there is. The morning runs to kōhanga or to school, our music is always present in those morning trips and afternoon trips as well, so i know the want is there," Wihongi says.
His personal highlight from Friday's awards ceremony in Hastings was being in the front row when Six60 played.
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