MOANA AND MAUI: The te reo Maori version of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana stays true to the original but the Moana musical experience is deepened with linguistic features specific to Te Whanau a Apanui and Ngati Porou, says musical director Rob Ruha.
Picture by Disney
TAIRAWHITI reo was central to the Matewa Media’s Maori language version of Disney’s musical fantasy-adventure film Moana, says Wharekahika (Hicks Bay) born musician Rob Ruha.
Ruha was musical director of the te reo version of the 3D computer-animated movie that tells the story of a strong-willed Polynesian girl who is
chosen by the ocean to reunite a mystical relic with a goddess. When a blight strikes her island, Moana sets sail in search of the demigod Maui in the hope of saving her people.
The te reo version stays true to the original “domestic” version, and the original music score was retained, but inclusion of this region’s Maui story, jokes and navigational knowledge in the movie was welcomed wholeheartedly, says Ruha.
“Words, phrases, jokes, slang and pronunciation specific to Te Whanau a Apanui and Ngati Porou made up the reo Maori script and translations for the songs.
“Where appropriate, local phrases and words were used, colloquial pronunciation and approaches to vocal performance of the kupu (speaking) and matauranga (knowledge), like star names, were used to deepen the Moana musical experience.”
