January 04, 2024
Poneke based Grove Roots release new waiata “Toitū Te Tiriti”
PŌNEKE BASED GRŌVE ROOTS RELEASE NEW WAIATA ‘TOITŪ TE TIRITI’
+ FIRST REO MĀORI MUSIC VIDEO IN SAND ART BY MARCUS WINTER
Aotearoa get ready to rise up for the kaupapa with Wellington collective GROVE ROOTS releasing a conscious driven waiata ‘Toitū Te Tiriti’.
The indigenous roots reggae waiata issues a challenge to all Governments and Councils here and around the World to respect the values and world views of First Nation peoples particulaly Māori here in Aotearoa and to honour Te Tiriti.
The music video is thought to be the first reo Māori waiata using sand art with artist Marcus Winter (Ngāpuhi, Te Roroa) taking us on a timeline journey of Aotearoa history.
The waiata sees the return of vocalist Jess Reriti (Te Whānau Apanui), our original kaiwaiata and her soulful tones.
Grove Roots founder Noel Woods (Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Porou, Ngā Ruahine, Taranaki Tūturu) decided to rework a reggae version of a 2019 recording from the album ‘Waka’. “How timely the release with the current political landscape not only here but around the World”.
Grove Roots was established at Waiwhetū Marae in 2006, with a debut performance at Parihaka Peace Festival. The Pōneke based band is a vessel for reo Māori using waiata and performance. In 2020 the whānau received best reo album, and 2021 best roots artist at the Waiata Māori Music Awards, finalist for best roots artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards 2021.
The waiata Toitū Te Tiriti was produced by T.A Productions with Support from Te Māngai Pāho and artwork by The Sandman and Louis Mikaere.