This September, Waiata Anthems Week will come to life with the release of a number of new recordings in te reo Māori and digital marketing campaign to celebrate the growing movement.
An industry-wide initiative, Waiata Anthems Week will be a celebration of the best new waiata and a chance to honour the champions and pioneers of te reo Māori who paved the way for future generations, supporting the emergence of a truly bilingual musical landscape.
On Friday 3rd September, more than a dozen new recordings of songs from some of the most celebrated musicians of Aotearoa – both established and emerging – will be released.
And from Monday 6th September through to Sunday 12th, our nation’s airwaves and digital music platforms will resonate with the vibrant sound of new waiata and bilingual music.
Waiata Anthems Week builds on the momentum of the hugely successful 2019 compilation album which saw successful pop songs by artists like Six60, Benee and Stan Walker re-recorded in te reo Māori and skyrocketed to the top of the Official New Zealand Album Chart.
The creator of Waiata/Anthems Dame Hinewehi Mohi says Waiata Anthems Week is the ongoing celebration of our nation’s heritage language, using the accessibility and power of popular music to increase the reach of our unique cultural identity to all of Aotearoa.
“From waiata that broke new ground such as ‘E Ipo’ by Prince Tui Teka and ‘Poi E’ by Pātea Māori Club to waiata stalwarts like Moana Maniapoto, Rob Ruha, Maisey Rika and Maimoa, we must never forget the songs that have moved us and the voices that championed for change.”
More details about the upcoming music releases and activations will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more information, please visit www.waiataanthems.co.nz.
Tō rātou moemoeā, tō tātou anamata – Their dream is our future