Waiata Singalong To Launch At Blues Vs Waratahs Super Rugby Pacific Match
Project founder, Dame Hinewehi Mohi DNZM says, 'We are thrilled to host the inaugural Waiata Singalong event ahead of this match and witness this kaupapa come to life. Waiata Singalong offers an incredible opportunity for all New Zealanders to learn and sing waiata, celebrating our cultural pride and nationhood.'
'Waiata is a wonderful way to unite people, whether it's for a celebration or a commemoration. We've designed these events to be inclusive and made as simple as possible for people to participate. You don't have to know any waiata to be able to take part. And it doesn't matter if you have never sung waiata before. All you need to do is come to the event and join in the experience,' says Dame Hinewehi Mohi.
Following the successful call for New Zealanders to participate in the Stand as a Nation HAKA event, to reclaim the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for the largest haka in 2024, Dame Hinewehi realised these iconic events have the power to unite people in ways that other events cannot.
'Seeing New Zealanders from all walks of life, performing Ka Mate in unity was incredible. It made me realise how much New Zealanders want to connect with each other and how much pride we hold as a nation. I want to ensure that we continue to celebrate our cultural heritage and unite in doing so,' say Dame Hinewehi.
Waiata are more than just Māori songs, they are a powerful medium for expressing emotions, preserving history, connecting people, and learning more about the language and culture of Aotearoa. Passed down through generations most New Zealanders are familiar with some well-known waiata but have lost the practice in their everyday lives.
Waiata Singalong aims to share the joy of waiata, encouraging all New Zealanders to take part so they can feel more confident and connected to their culture, fostering a profound sense of unity and belonging.
'This initiative not only enriches our cultural knowledge and understanding of te reo Māori, but also strengthens our community bonds through the shared joy of singing together,' says Dame Hinewehi Mohi.
Fully supporting the first Waiata Singalong, a selection of Blues players, as well as Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei will join veteran broadcaster Stacey Morrison on the field just before kick-off to lead the Waiata Singalong.
'As a team that represents all people across Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Tai Tokerau, we're proud to support this kaupapa,' Blues forward Angus Ta'avao said.
'Waiata is a powerful way to bring people together, and we're stoked to support our fans and whānau in sharing this moment as a show of unity on and off the field.'
The first in a series of events and activations, Waiata Singalong provides comprehensive support and guidance with links to valuable waiata resources and easy steps so that everyone can establish their own waiata practices, all while learning te reo Māori.
How to get involved
The first Waiata Singalong event will take place on the 31st May 2025 at Eden Park ahead of the Blues vs Waratahs Super Rugby Pacific match.
By purchasing a ticket to attend the match you will be able to take part in the Waiata Singalong. Tickets for the match are available (insert link)
To access the lyrics and music ahead of time, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZfISqdykrE – 'Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi' by Wī Te Tau Huata & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_CJFEKNvX8 'Pepeha' by Six60.
About Waiata Singalong
Waiata Singalong is a suite of activations and live events, aiming to connect people through waiata, bringing meaning to their cultural context and a channel through which we can further learn te reo Māori.
Waiata Singalong provides links to valuable waiata resources and easy steps to learn waiata gaining confidence and a repertoire for inclusion at gatherings, functions and events.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Otago Daily Times
Exhibition blends arcade games, Māori design
Tūhura Otago Museum pasifika engagement co-ordinator Leota Meredith tries her hand at one of the reimagined video games featured in the "Arca Arcade: Round One" exhibition. PHOTO: CHARLIE BUCHAN Contemporary design and cultural storytelling come together in a unique exhibition now open at Tūhura Otago Museum. "Arca Arcade: Round One" is a display of fully playable retro gaming machines created by designer Preston McNeil, of Wellington. Mr McNeil said he wanted to create something that honoured both the history of arcade gaming and the richness of contemporary Aotearoa art. "These machines are a love letter to every kid who dropped their last 20 cents into a game they knew they could not win, but tried anyway. "Blending those memories with the depth and craft of Māori design has created something I never imagined I would be able to build." "Arca Arcade" integrates te ao Māori, whakairo (carving) and worked pounamu with classic video game culture. The machines are adorned with original artwork from contemporary artists including Gina Kiel, Flox, Otis Frizzell, Joe Sheehan and Otis Chamberlain. Visitors to the exhibition are encouraged to play the games housed inside each uniquely designed cabinet. Tūhura Otago Museum pasifika engagement co-ordinator Leota Meredith said playing the games brought back memories. "Back in my prime, we used to call these games 'choice'. It was all about challenging your mates. "You would only find them at the local dairy and playing felt like a special occasion." Players once had to pay 20 cents, which was a significant amount then, so every game mattered. "It's great to play them again; it brings back so many memories. And having them free now? Even better." Tūhura Otago Museum head of exhibitions and design Craig Scott said Dunedin was already a hub for digital innovation and home to creative gaming talent. "We are proud to partner with Code, the Centre of Digital Excellence, to present this exhibition and show young people what is possible when design, technology and culture collide. "This is about inspiring as much as it is fun nostalgia." • "Arca Arcade: Round One" runs until September 21 in the Beautiful Science Gallery.
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Otago Daily Times
Waiata recorded to honour anniversary
Teone Hotu was sitting on a beat-up old couch at a student flat party when the lightbulb went on. The 24-year-old University of Otago dental student realised that many of the original waiata they were singing at Te Rōpū Māori (the Māori Students' Association) gatherings and house parties, were written by Māori students at the university, and they deserved to have their own spotlight. So he decided to collate the waiata and record them for an EP, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Te Rōpū Māori (TRM). While it may seem completely out of left field for a fourth-year dental student to be producing an EP, it all makes sense when Mr Hotu reveals he has affiliations to Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Maniapoto, and he previously won a music scholarship to spend a year at the Six60 house, in Castle St, studying music production. Te Rōpū Māori 30th Anniversary EP features a collection of six waiata, performed by TRM students and alumni. They were produced by Mr Hotu and his uncle, award-winning Māori music producer Maaka 'Phat' McGregor, and recorded by Stephen Stedman at the university's School of Performing Arts recording studio. Mr Hotu said the waiata told stories that related to tauira Māori, about seizing the day, striving for excellence, letting loved ones go, staying grounded in Māori identity, and showcasing the 'after-hours' culture of student life at Otago. "I thought it would be awesome to record them so the music and the messages wouldn't be lost, and so they could inspire future generations. "The EP is also a tribute to all the people who have supported us on our journey at the University of Otago, so it's great to be able to release the EP in conjunction with the 30th Anniversary of Te Rōpū Māori." He said the EP took a lot of hard work, rehearsal time and commitment while they prepared for exams and dealt with life in general. "I'm so proud of my fellow students, their beautiful singing and harmonies, and the energy, emotion and feelings they put into their performances. "Above all, I feel like it's all been worth it and we're making a difference for those who will come after us." He said a music video had been created for track 2 — Te Ata o Tūmāhina, composed by Kiti Te Maire Brennan and Thomas-Aerepo Morgan — to help promote the EP's release today. The music video can be viewed on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. He hoped hearing the waiata on the radio would give alumni "flashbacks" of their hectic, yet nostalgic uni days. "I would love to have the opportunity to do other projects like this before my time ends at Otago, but if not, I'm hopeful that future Te Rōpū Māori students will continue what we have started here, in years to come. "Beyond that, I hope that in 50 years from now, we can look back and see that what we did here was the start of something bigger — the first in a series of TRM waiata to be produced, or that one song inspired our mokopuna to strive for excellence and become the first teacher, lawyer, dentist, or doctor in their whānau." The EP will be launched online today at the University of Otago Auahi Ora events venue, and will be available on all major digital platforms.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
The Panel Plus for 23 July 2025
An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: why is sorry the hardest word to say? According to The Times though, Britons have no problem dropping a S bomb multiple times a day. But our in-house linguist Rory O'Sullivan says New Zealanders are fans of saying "sorry" at the drop of a hat too. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
