September 17, 2021
Reo Māori music bonanza for language week
This year’s Te Wiki o te reo Māori has been a great one for music, with dozens of new songs served up for the playlists.
Many were inspired by Dame Hinewehi Mohi’s Māori Anthems project, in which popular hits are redone with te reo Māori lyrics.
Mainstream listeners could be drawn in by Lorde giving the treatment to five songs from her new Solar Power album, and Dave Dobbyn remaking his 35-year old hit Slice of Heaven as Hine Ruhi.
Moana Maniapoto, whose first single Kua Makona came out the same year as Slice of Heaven, says she has been saying for years the only way te reo would hit the big time was if someone like Lorde puts out a song.
“Because it’s not going to work with the likes of myself of Maisey (Rika), Rob (Ruha), all the other incredible artists, and have been champions for a long time. It has to be a superstar. it’s an irony, but it’s useful for te reo and I think it’s amazing so much reo Māori music is coming out, fantastic, bring it on,” she says.
Moana’s latest single dropped for Māori Language Week, Āio ana, is a collaboration with Saami star Mari Boine from Norway.