Inaugural Te Marama Pūoru Waiata Māori - Māori Music Month set to launch

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1 Inaugural Te Marama Pūoru Waiata Māori - Māori Music Month set to launch 23 July - A group of high- profile Māori music entertainers have put their names behind an initiative to mentor young, up and coming performers in New Zealand and Australia. Maisey Rika, Rob Ruha, Tama Waipara and Taisha Tari will work as ambassadors, heading the inaugural Te Marama Pūoru Waiata Māori - Māori Music Month, in August. It will include workshops in schools that will focus on taonga pūoro, or traditional Māori music instruments, song writing, song composition and vocal training. There will also be a special focus on turntablism, the art of manipulating sounds and creating music using turntables, led by some of top Maori DJs. Those leading the workshops will share their advice and experience about working in the music industry. The initiative will be launched at the National Secondary Schools Kapa Haka competition in Hawke's Bay on July 28. It is the creation of Ellison Huata who is the executive director of the National Waiata Māori Music Awards, held in Hastings for the past eight years. Ellison took over the top role from her father, the late Tama Huata, who created the awards event that first showed in Ellison said Māori Music Month would aim to connect young performers with established artists through events planned for each week in August, starting in Wellington, then Auckland, Waikato and finally the Gold Coast in Australia. Creating possibilities Rob Ruha is a multi- award winning singer/song writer with a unique style of music that is an eclectic mix of soul- roots- reggae with a touch of RnB, rock- blues and jazz. He immediately thought of the word possibilities when he was asked to take a lead role in Māori Music Month.

2 Of course as artists, we celebrate and live Māori music all year round but what this enables us to do is provide a concentrated showcase experience for those of the world who may want to explore this dynamic and diverse world of music. "There is so much to be grateful for and to celebrate in Māori music. There are heaps of opportunities to encourage growth, engagement and development during this month for those in the Māori music industry and those of all generations who aspire to be a part of it. Rob said agreeing to be part of Maori Music Month was a no brainer. He is passionate about Māori music, the oranga it brings people and its power to touch and move the world. Sharing knowledge, experiences and life- lessons with those who are considering a career in Māori music is another passion of mine. All these things align to what I think Māori Music Month will encourage and support. Rob says he hopes the public will join in on the celebration of good music that comes out of this great nation of ours. Music that is unique to us in language, in presentation, in feel and in world view. And by public I mean Aotearoa and the world. As part of Maori Music Month, he intends to visit communities and kura to help promote Maori music and to share what it has given to him, his friends, family and iwi. I d like to show people how they can be a part of it and help support it s growth. I will be a part of workshops, wānanga, performances, collaborations and jam sessions with those who are keen to share and be a part of them. I am really looking forward to it. Māori Music Month is going to be awesome! Sharing knowledge Singer/songwriter Maisey Rika has also thrown her support behind the initiative. Maisey will also offer her time and experience to work with young musicians. I just to be there for anyone to help out as much as I can. I sing and write songs so I would offer my help in those fields and if there are any paatai to do with the industry side as well I would endeavour to answer truthfully. She also wants to share lessons learned from working as a songwriter and performer. If you look after your taonga it will look after you. The world is a great place if you learn to embrace it and learn about things you never new existed.

3 Developing emerging artists Tama Waipara said he was excited and pleased to see the introduction of Māori Music Month. There are many wonderful and hard- working musicians out there who should be celebrated, and also many young talented people coming through. Tama Huata created the Waiata Māori Music Awards and gave many people, including myself, an opportunity to showcase our music. I think any initiative that celebrates Māori musicians and continues that proud legacy is exciting. Tama Waipara said he hopes people will get a taste of some of the vibrant music being generated all over the country by new and familiar artists. I also hope everyone learns something they didn't know before about our people, our culture and our music. He is firmly committed to developing and mentoring emerging artists. I stand with many other musicians in that respect, who also believe that joy comes from kotahitanga and manaakitanga. Point of difference The ambassador for the Waiata Māori Music Awards, Taisha Tari, lives and works on the Gold Coast and will head the Māori Music Month workshop in Australia. The Waiata Maori Music awards have such an integral part to play not only in the preservation of the past but in nurturing our future for generations to come. To be a strong player in the world market we must have a spring board and foundation to launch our music. What she has found as an artist is that Maori music in our point of difference in the world. The Waiata Māori Music Awards offers artists a platform to be recognized not only in New Zealand but the world. It also provides an opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces in the Maori music industry and meet new, talented people coming through. It makes us stronger together. I m so very passionate about this mahi and the recognition not only for past, but present and future artists. Ellison Huata said Taisha is a valuable contact for young people looking to make their way across to Australia to further their musical careers.

4 We want to give our rangatahi some tools to help them on their journey, to mentor them so they're heading on the right track. Decade of Waiata Māori Music Awards Ellison said Māori Music Month will generate activity for artists in August each year. It will bridge a gap between NZ Music Month in May, Matariki & Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori in June- July, and the Waiata Māori Awards in September. Māori Music Month will also help build interest in the 10th anniversary of the Waiata Māori Music Awards in It will also be a chance to think about how the two events can propel the next generation of artists working in Māori music over the next decade. We've decided that it's really going to be a time for us to step up and provide some guidance for our rangatahi who are looking for a career in the music industry, Ellison said. She said it was important the event followed its Mission Statement, to acknowledge and honour the keepers, teachers, promoters, creators and performers of Māori music; to continue to develop and promote the diversity of all Māori music; to showcase and celebrate the excellence of Māori music; to recognize the unique vision of Māori composers and musicians; and to enrich this rich cultural voice. It is where Te Marama Pūoru Waiata Māori Māori Music Month, will help with the development of such creation and acknowledgment, in reo pakeha and most important reo Maori. Some of those who take part in the Māori Music Month emerging artist showcase will be nominated to appear as guest artists at this year's Waiata Māori Music Awards, to be held in Hastings in September. Te Marama Pūoru Waiata Māori Māori Music Month Launch There will be a special VIP- only event to launch Māori Music Month in Hawke's Bay. It will be held at the Pettigrew Green Arena in Taradale on July 28. There launch event starts at 7.30pm with a concert at 8.30pm, showcasing various Māori music artists. The launch will be held at the conclusion of the National Secondary Schools Kapa Haka event. Māori Music Month schedule: August, 1st week Wellington; 2nd week Auckland; 3rd week Waikato; 4th week Gold Coast, Australia. If there are any schools that want to become involved in the workshops as part of Māori Music Month, please Ellison Huata: ellison.kahurangi@xtra.co.nz

5 Waiata Māori Music Awards & Music Expo: Expo: Friday, September 9, at the Hawke's Bay Opera House Plaza in Hastings, from 9am to 2pm. Awards event: Friday, September 9, at the Hastings Sports Arena, from 6pm. For more information, contact Ellison Huata: (06)