Mānawa maiea te putanga o Matariki

Mānawa maiea te ariki o te rangi

Mānawa maiea te Mātahi o te Tau.

Remembrance - Remembering those who have passed during the year.

Celebrating the present - Gathering to celebrate with feasting, games and joyful activities.

Looking to the future - Planning for the year ahead with hope, dreams, wishes into reality.

The celebration of the Matariki dates back over 700 years and is accompanied by long-established traditions throughout the world. The rising of Puanga (also known as the star Rigel in Orion) and the Matariki star cluster (also known as Pleiades, or the Seven Sisters) marks the start of the Māori New Year, a time for remembering the past, celebrating the present, and looking to the future. 

Kia ora koutou,

Thank you so much for supporting our Tūtira Mai Cyclone Gabrielle Relief Concert and also our kaupapa from far and wide. There were a lot of enquiries before the Tūtira Mai about our merchandise.

'Tūtira Mai - Standing together, all iwi, all nations within unity and mana.

This title and meaning speaks to the kaupapa that has brought everyone together in unity, within the spirit of aroha and giving, thanks to the waiata Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi gifted by the children of Ngāti Kahungunu composer Cannon Wi Te Tau Huata (MC). 

The Tūtira Mai - Cyclone Gabrielle Relief Concert was born to support our whānau, hapū, iwi and hāpori from the devasting effects of Cyclone Gabrielle. We are all affected and many are still isolated without power, communications, clean water and basic resources. Many have lost their homes, marae, kura, livelihood and some their lives. The restoration has begun but it will take years to recover. 

Resources are required on a daily basis to whānau that are displaced and to the regions that are traumatised from this event. 

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Whanganui ā Tara are happy to support this kaupapa and thank all that have contributed towards this concert, volunteering their time, expertise, artistry, talents, co-ordination, production, administration, venue, marketing, promotion, resources, funding, security, recycle/waste management, manaakitanga, kai, heart and koha. 

The lineup is stellar and features award winning artists:

Troy Kingi, Louis Baker, AJA, Mara TK, Aotearoa All Stars, Sianne, Amber Holly, Kirsten Te Rito, Lisa Tomlins, Rachel Fraser and DJ Jayrasik. The night will also be entertained by MCs Kiino Krystal and The Māori Sidesteps Jamie McCaskill and Regan Taylor. The three-hour concert will be full of amazing artistry and entertainment. 

AOTEAROA ALLSTARS will join the line up at 'Te Rā o Waitangi' - a free, whānau-friendly event in the heart of the city where we can honour the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, acknowledge our history, and recognise the power of coming together – and everyone is invited!

Bring your friends and whānau, and enjoy an award-winning line-up of Māori performers, food, and culture.

Programme

12 noon - Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika | Welcome speech by her Worship, Mayor Tory Whanau | MC Paora Sweeney

12.20pm - Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Mokopuna

12.50pm - Tararua Taonga Puoro

1.25pm - Amba Holly

2pm - Jah Glory

3pm - Aotearoa Allstars

4pm - AJA

5pm - TOI

6pm - Closin

The iconic Gardens Magic concert series returns to the Botanic Garden ki Paekākā’s Soundshell for three weeks next month – so get ready to face the music. Wellington City Council is proud to be hosting this free event for its 43rd year, filling the summer nights with sounds and a light display which transforms the gardens into a magical setting. Head along with a rug and picnic and grab some friends and whānau for an evening of free entertainment from some of the best local talent around. There’ll be something for everyone with music ranging from contemporary pop to indie to classical to rock. Here’s what some of the artists say about their Gardens Magic experience and performing live.

Toni Huata, Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongowhakaata (Aotearoa Allstars | Thurs 19 Jan)

A Wellington-based group made up of artists from a number of award winning Kaupapa Māori music groups. The group aims to promote te reo Māori through music and having fun with the audience.

I have performed and attended Gardens Magic at different times over the years and what I like about this festival is that it celebrates all genre of music, performance, culture and talent. Gardens Magic also celebrates Wellington and our arts culture here. In particular to our involvement, in the past and in 2023 with 'Puoro ki te Ao' and 'Aotearoa Allstars' we celebrate our reo, traditions, compositions and contemporary kaupapa Māori music for all to experience and enjoy.

I love being in nature, it brings a beautiful mauri. I also like being with families, different cultures and sharing our music to uplift and heal others. We are lucky that this is a two-way process and we receive a lot of positivity in return. The good thing with Gardens Magic is that it is a family audience, it's fresh into Raumati 2023, and we are sharing our reo with the multitudes.

HE WAIATA MOTUHAKE - A Special Waiata

We are very happy to announce that te reo Māori ballad HE AROHA written by Ngahiwi Apanui, sung by Toni Huata and recorded with Aotearoa Allstars released as part of the Waiata Anthems Week of releases 5-11 September 2022.

HE AROHA: Buy https://bfan.link/he-aroha

HE AROHA: Audio https://youtu.be/W0CooFs_qjo

And for Te Wiki mo te reo Māori the below

Hei tā te tautitotito o te waiata 'He Aroha', a Ngahiwi Apanui, e tū whakahīhī ana ia ka whakaputaina a 'He Aroha' e Waiata Anthems 2022.

Kia ora koutou katoa,

What a fantastic year it has been in terms of great music, events, wānanga and projects amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. 

World wide many are affected whether in illness, lost lives, recovery, vaccination, non-vaccination, regional lockdowns, traffic light systems, economic loss, live events and just plain seeing whānau, the world has forever changed. We send our love and light to all that have been effected by this mate korona, mate urutā. 

We look forward to a season of great music, playing and creation, online and live music experiences, as it feeds into our Aotearoa music industry.

Here's to health, wealth and happiness and may this be spread world wide to each of you and your families.

Ngā manaakitanga ki runga i a koutou me o koutou whānau

TAIHOA Official Video

Celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, Toni releases her music video TAIHOA (Wait), from her album Te Rerenga – The Journey.

LISTEN Te Rerenga - The Journey
http://www.tonihuata.com/Media

BUY Te Rerenga - The Journey
https://open.spotify.com/album/1WdFMO...
https://music.apple.com/nz/album/te-r...
https://music.apple.com/nz/album/te-r...


TAIHOA (Dub-Mix) is track 10 and was originally written in response to a substance use campaign but the song itself is open to interpretation.

The overt message is for parents to think about the consequences of over indulgence with drugs and alcohol - the impact it has on our children and families and how this has affected our relationships and health.
No one is perfect but everything we do effects how our children see themselves and the narrative they carry into adulthood.

So TAIHOA, WAIT and THINK!

Taihoa could also be applied to taking it slow in relationships too.

Acknowledgements to:

Te Māngai Pāho and Motion Valley Film Company
On-set director: Canaan Akuhata-Brown
Producer: Hayley Watters
Director of Photography: Scott Pennington
Assistant: Mathew Wyn-Harris
Editor: Scott Pennington
Photographer: Stephen A’Court
Actors: Shanara Wallace (daughter), Kylie Watters (mother)
Artist: Toni Huata (lyrics, lead/backing vocals, composition)
Music Producer / Remix: Paddy Free
Tui class at Te Kura o Ōtari for the TAIHOA shout outs!

For more information check out: www.tonihuata.com  

TAHURI MAI VIDEO HERE

TAHURI MAI A NEW MUSIC VIDEO CELEBRATION for NZ MUSIC MONTH by TONI HUATA

In celebration of NZ Music Month and within the spirit of aroha Toni Huata releases her fourth music video Tahuri Mai, from her new album Te Rerenga – The Journey on Mother’s Day.

Toni is happy to announce the release of her new music video Tahuri Maia love song written and composed by Adrian Tangaroa Wagner and Toni Huata, produced by Paddy Free, filmed by Motion Valley and funded by Te Māngai Pāho.

Toni says, “I’m excited to release my fourth video ‘

Tahuri Mai’ to celebrate this month of NZ and Māori music, the spirit of aroha, my husband Adrian’s birthday and on Mother’s Day. So many kaupapa but all relevant to the celebration of this song. We released Tahuri Mai to Māori radio as a single originally and with this new video it is now track 14 on Te Rerenga – The Journey album.

Tahuri Mai - I Tunes

Tahuri Mai - Spotify Track 14

Tahuri Mai Original Single Notes

I love how Tahuri Mai has developed into this sunshine, happy feeling of Summer.Itreminds me of our honeymoon in Vanuatu and travels to sunny places throughout Aotearoa, the pacific and the world. Thanks to Paddy, Pos and Pat for their spirit in this song. The video follows the day in the lives of a young couple and takes us to stunning locations in Wellington. Many thanks to Scott, Hayley, Canaan, Mat and our beautiful talent John and Mariarangi. Ngā mihi aroha ki a koutou katoa”.

Acknowledgements to:

Te Māngai Pāho and Motion Valley Film Company.

On-set Director: Canaan Akuhata-Brown,

Producer: Hayley Watters,

Director of Photography: Scott Pennington,

Drone Operator/Assistant: Mathew Wyn-Harris,

Editor: Scott Pennington

Talent: John

Toni Huata, Ngāti Kahungunu and Rongowhakaata, has been appointed to the newly established role of Kaihautū Puoro Māori - Director of Māori Music at SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music. 

This new role will be responsible for the implementation and development of SOUNZ’s Māori Music Strategy. SOUNZ Executive Director, Diana Marsh, said, “This full-time leadership role is a significant new direction for SOUNZ as we intend to work with Māori composers to expand our collection and the work that we do to represent the music of Aotearoa.” 

“SOUNZ is delighted to appoint such an experienced candidate to this role,” said Diana Marsh, in announcing the appointment today. “Toni has shown a strong commitment to Māori music through her work with numerous organisations in both leadership roles and as a composer and musician, and we are fortunate to have her join the SOUNZ whānau to further promote and share the music of Māori composers.”

Ms Huata says, “I'm very happy to support SOUNZ in this new role and acknowledge all that have contributed towards the fruition of this journey. I look forward with much excitement to connecting and collaborating with many organisations and composers in this coming year; highlighting our uniqueness yet commonality from our special place in this world - Aotearoa. 
Nō reira, āku nui, āku rahi, kā nui rā ngā mihi ki a koutou mō tō koutou tautoko ki te kaupapa kai mua i a tātau. E rere e te huata hopukia, e rere e te manuka tomokia.”

Toni Huata brings a wide variety of skills to this role, including manager, director, producer and performer. Toni is well known within the culture sector in New Zealand as a practitioner and promoter of Māori culture, music and performance. She has served in governance roles with Te Runanga o Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Whanganui ā Tara, Pūatatangi - Toi Māori Aotearoa, Taki Rua Productions, Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated and other iwi and Māori agencies.

SOUNZ would like to thank the Lottery Grants Board and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori for their support of SOUNZ's Māori Music Strategy and this role.

SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand music works to champion the music of New Zealand’s composers. SOUNZ is home to a diverse and vibrant collection of information, scores, recordings and films of New Zealand music and performances. Creative collaborations with partner organisations such as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, RNZ Concert, APRA and NZ On Air highlight the organisation’s ongoing growth and development through events and projects that promote the music of Aotearoa to national and international audiences.