Waiata Anthems: 30 artists join forces to celebrate a bilingual music industry

Name: Waiata Anthems Week
Uploaded: 2021-09-01T05:00:00+12:00
Description: Waiata Anthems Week (September 6-12) is a week dedicated to waiata reo Māori, where more than a dozen New Zealand artists have re-recorded their tracks in te reo Māori. Video / Supplied

By Zoe Holland

Social Media and Trending reporter, NZ Herald·NZ Herald·

2 Sep, 2021 05:00 PM3 mins to read

Waiata Anthems Week (September 6-12) is a week dedicated to waiata reo Māori, where more than a dozen New Zealand artists have re-recorded their tracks in te reo Māori. Video / Supplied

To celebrate New Zealand's bilingual music industry 30 artists have joined forces with Waiata/Anthems to release a number of new singles in Te reo Māori.

Following the success of the original 2019 waiata compilation album, today's new singles are from artists including Paige, Stan Walker, Anna Coddington and Niko Walters.

These songs join the already released Pepeha by SIX60 and Ko Te Hīnātoretanga by Hollie Smith and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Ria Hall's 'Rangatira / Owner' single is one of the many songs released during Waiata Anthems week. Photo / Supplied

Waiata/Anthems creator Dame Hinewehi Mohi said the collective music industry of Aotearoa coming together to celebrate and support a truly bilingual landscape is heartening.

"We're supporting the movement with musicians from across the country to encourage all New Zealanders to celebrate our nation's heritage language and to make it accessible through the power of music," she said.

"Creating this collection of waiata has been a journey for many of the artists involved, giving them a chance to connect with Te Ao Māori and their place in Aotearoa like never before."

Waiata Anthems Week (September 6-12) is a week fully dedicated to waiata reo Māori, where more than a dozen New Zealand artists have re-recorded their tracks in te reo Māori.

The full list of releases is below:

• SIX60 - Pepeha

• Stan Walker - Tau Te Mārire / Take It Easy

• Hamo Dell - Ora Ai / Feeling Right

• Paige - Taiāniwha / Waves

• Niko Walters - Aroha Kaitangata / Vicious Love

• Mikey Dam - Māu / Would You

• Anna Coddington ft. Louis Baker - Aho / Beams

• Muroki - Rehurehu / Wavy

• Reuben Fleetwood - Haere Rā / So Do You

• Sons of Zion - He Aroha Hinemoa / Love on the Run

• Hollie Smith feat. NZSO - Ko Te Hīnātoretanga / Coming in from the Dark