Latest news with #Waiata
Scoop
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
GENEVA AM Shares New Song Toitū Te Tiriti
Press Release – Naked PR July 4, 2025: Geneva AM is the moniker of Geneva Alexander-Marsters (she/her, Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Aitutaki, Palmerston), an award winning producer, beat maker and vocalist based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Her bilingual approach to songwriting has been prominent throughout her musical career, most notably with the band SoccerPractise (2012-2018) and her debut release IHO (Waiata / Anthems). IHO went on to win Te Tohu Puoro o te reo Māori (Favourite Song featuring Te Reo Māori) at the 2023 Student Radio Network Awards. In 2024, she released the single 'T(M)²I' (Tangaroa Made Me Ill) in two versions (te reo and English), followed by ' Pikipiki ' which amassed over 200,000 streams on Spotify. A seasoned live performer, Geneva AM has recently performed alongside Anna Coddington, Ladi6 and Suzi Cato. Today Geneva AM releases Toitū Te Tiriti, a call to action to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an invitation for everyone to speak te reo Māori. Toitū Te Tiriti is taken from her debut album Pikipiki (out August 15th on digital and Vinyl LP). Agile and precise string arrangements convey defiance and resistance while volleying with Geneva AM's powerful and dynamic vocal performance throughout Toitū Te Tiriti. The song is a call to action for everyone to honour Te Tiriti and an invitation for everyone to speak Māori. Using repetition in a simple lyrical format, Geneva AM refers to the mountains, rivers and the people as a reminder to the listener of the natural landmarks which feature in a pepeha. Geneva explains 'For this waiata, I wanted to make a series of statements because I believe the power of singing words out loud can positively influence people who may need to draw strength and keep going with their kaupapa. I made this waiata very quickly in response to witnessing the greed of our current coalition government. Watching the Toitū movement unfold last year was a monumental part of our history, especially as we saw the Treaty Principles Bill get thrown out.' 'The overall message of this single is a window into the theme around the album. 'All hope is not lost'. 'Pikipiki' means to ascend, this body of work is about overcoming obstacles and never giving up. Now more than ever we need to stand for what we believe in and support each other through this next stage of humanity' Toitū Te Tiriti was composed with help from Eric Scholes (who regularly performs with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, and NZ Barok Orchestra) and features performances by a seven piece string ensemble. 'I wanted strings for this waiata because they are capable of harnessing these deep layers of immense emotion. The lyrics are quite simple and repetitive. I'm a pretty blunt person! Having these layers of tones painting the emotions which swirl underneath the surface like a rolling ocean really holds together this waiata in a way I could never have imagined!' 'Eric and I have worked together for almost 20 years in a couple of covers bands (shoutouts Coco-Rocky) and I knew in the back of my mind that it would be cool to work on something like this with him one day. I told Eric that regardless of what he comes up with, I trust him. We talked a lot about all of the complicated feelings around Te Tiriti (especially during the lead up to the epic resistance to the Treaty Principles Bill that was introduced). On one hand I see this initial promise that was made by our collective ancestors to live in harmony and then on the other there is no denying the historical acts of violence that continuously broke the premise of that promise. 185 years later we can see the results of this partnership between Tangata Whenua and The Crown. I feel angry and sad about it but I have to remain hopeful and strong so that we can uphold the mana of Te Tiriti for the next generation.' Scholes concurs 'I wanted to get to the core message of the song – a feeling of defiance, stoicism, hope and start from there. I worked on it over many months, taking long breaks between sessions so it felt fresh and each time I would have different inspiration – Tchaikovsky, Rameau, Joy Division to name a few. At times I would try to follow voice leading rules and at others I just went full power chord.' 'I didn't want to stray too far from Geneva's original conception so I applied a bit of a punk ethos of keeping it simple. Drawing from our background of playing rhythm based music, I treated the strings like a rhythm section in a band. Keeping the groove driving and then adding some melodic stuff in the interlude. I had this idea of a furiously busy string texture cooking up a storm for the vocal part to simmer and soar on top.' He reflects 'I'm thrilled to have worked on something with such depth and meaning and also to collaborate with Geneva in this capacity has been really special.' 'Hearing the first take made me well up,' says Geneva. 'It's so uplifting to hear, especially with everything that is happening in the world right now. Initially I made something that was purely for my own survival and now I am ready to gift this waiata to everyone.' On August 15 Geneva AM will release her debut album ' Pikipiki ' which intends to uplift the wairua and encourage the listener to overcome life's obstacles. Geneva AM will be playing across many genres which serve as a backdrop for her strong vocals and bilingual lyrics. She has also paid homage to waiata she grew up with, providing a modern treatment of Purea Nei by Hirini Melbourne, Pokarekare Ana by the returning soldiers of WWI and Tutira Mai Ngā Iwi by Wiremu Te Tau Huata. Pikipiki takes a piecemeal approach to genre, utilising Classical, Dance, Drum'n'Bass, and Emo Rock to accompany new bilingual songs and reimagined covers of Aotearoa favourites—such as 'Pokarekare Ana,' 'Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi,' and 'Pūrea Nei.' The album features a number of collaborations, with appearances from Mara TK, Hawkins, Samara Alofa, and Rewi McLay, alongside the puoro of Tyson Campbell (Pikipiki); The Deadly Sins arranged by Eric Scholes (Toitū Te Tiriti); Ruby Walsh (Na Noise, Lips); Fiona Campbell (Guardian Singles, Coolies) and Lani Purkis (Elemeno P) on 'Pokarekare Ana.'
Scoop
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
GENEVA AM Shares New Song Toitū Te Tiriti
July 4, 2025: Geneva AM is the moniker of Geneva Alexander-Marsters (she/her, Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Aitutaki, Palmerston), an award winning producer, beat maker and vocalist based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Her bilingual approach to songwriting has been prominent throughout her musical career, most notably with the band SoccerPractise (2012-2018) and her debut release IHO (Waiata / Anthems). IHO went on to win Te Tohu Puoro o te reo Māori (Favourite Song featuring Te Reo Māori) at the 2023 Student Radio Network Awards. In 2024, she released the single 'T(M)²I' (Tangaroa Made Me Ill) in two versions (te reo and English), followed by ' Pikipiki ' which amassed over 200,000 streams on Spotify. A seasoned live performer, Geneva AM has recently performed alongside Anna Coddington, Ladi6 and Suzi Cato. Today Geneva AM releases Toitū Te Tiriti, a call to action to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an invitation for everyone to speak te reo Māori. Toitū Te Tiriti is taken from her debut album Pikipiki (out August 15th on digital and Vinyl LP). Agile and precise string arrangements convey defiance and resistance while volleying with Geneva AM's powerful and dynamic vocal performance throughout Toitū Te Tiriti. The song is a call to action for everyone to honour Te Tiriti and an invitation for everyone to speak Māori. Using repetition in a simple lyrical format, Geneva AM refers to the mountains, rivers and the people as a reminder to the listener of the natural landmarks which feature in a pepeha. Geneva explains 'For this waiata, I wanted to make a series of statements because I believe the power of singing words out loud can positively influence people who may need to draw strength and keep going with their kaupapa. I made this waiata very quickly in response to witnessing the greed of our current coalition government. Watching the Toitū movement unfold last year was a monumental part of our history, especially as we saw the Treaty Principles Bill get thrown out.' "The overall message of this single is a window into the theme around the album. 'All hope is not lost'. 'Pikipiki' means to ascend, this body of work is about overcoming obstacles and never giving up. Now more than ever we need to stand for what we believe in and support each other through this next stage of humanity' Toitū Te Tiriti was composed with help from Eric Scholes (who regularly performs with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, and NZ Barok Orchestra) and features performances by a seven piece string ensemble. 'I wanted strings for this waiata because they are capable of harnessing these deep layers of immense emotion. The lyrics are quite simple and repetitive. I'm a pretty blunt person! Having these layers of tones painting the emotions which swirl underneath the surface like a rolling ocean really holds together this waiata in a way I could never have imagined!' 'Eric and I have worked together for almost 20 years in a couple of covers bands (shoutouts Coco-Rocky) and I knew in the back of my mind that it would be cool to work on something like this with him one day. I told Eric that regardless of what he comes up with, I trust him. We talked a lot about all of the complicated feelings around Te Tiriti (especially during the lead up to the epic resistance to the Treaty Principles Bill that was introduced). On one hand I see this initial promise that was made by our collective ancestors to live in harmony and then on the other there is no denying the historical acts of violence that continuously broke the premise of that promise. 185 years later we can see the results of this partnership between Tangata Whenua and The Crown. I feel angry and sad about it but I have to remain hopeful and strong so that we can uphold the mana of Te Tiriti for the next generation.' Scholes concurs 'I wanted to get to the core message of the song - a feeling of defiance, stoicism, hope and start from there. I worked on it over many months, taking long breaks between sessions so it felt fresh and each time I would have different inspiration - Tchaikovsky, Rameau, Joy Division to name a few. At times I would try to follow voice leading rules and at others I just went full power chord.' 'I didn't want to stray too far from Geneva's original conception so I applied a bit of a punk ethos of keeping it simple. Drawing from our background of playing rhythm based music, I treated the strings like a rhythm section in a band. Keeping the groove driving and then adding some melodic stuff in the interlude. I had this idea of a furiously busy string texture cooking up a storm for the vocal part to simmer and soar on top.' He reflects 'I'm thrilled to have worked on something with such depth and meaning and also to collaborate with Geneva in this capacity has been really special.' 'Hearing the first take made me well up,' says Geneva. 'It's so uplifting to hear, especially with everything that is happening in the world right now. Initially I made something that was purely for my own survival and now I am ready to gift this waiata to everyone.' On August 15 Geneva AM will release her debut album ' Pikipiki ' which intends to uplift the wairua and encourage the listener to overcome life's obstacles. Geneva AM will be playing across many genres which serve as a backdrop for her strong vocals and bilingual lyrics. She has also paid homage to waiata she grew up with, providing a modern treatment of Purea Nei by Hirini Melbourne, Pokarekare Ana by the returning soldiers of WWI and Tutira Mai Ngā Iwi by Wiremu Te Tau Huata. Pikipiki takes a piecemeal approach to genre, utilising Classical, Dance, Drum'n'Bass, and Emo Rock to accompany new bilingual songs and reimagined covers of Aotearoa favourites—such as "Pokarekare Ana," "Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi," and "Pūrea Nei." The album features a number of collaborations, with appearances from Mara TK, Hawkins, Samara Alofa, and Rewi McLay, alongside the puoro of Tyson Campbell (Pikipiki); The Deadly Sins arranged by Eric Scholes (Toitū Te Tiriti); Ruby Walsh (Na Noise, Lips); Fiona Campbell (Guardian Singles, Coolies) and Lani Purkis (Elemeno P 'Pokarekare Ana.'
RNZ News
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Eden Park hosts the first-ever Waiata Singalong
music te ao Maori about 1 hour ago Tutira Mai Nga Iwi will be sung by thousands at Auckland's Eden Park this weekend. Rugby fans and whanau heading to Saturday's Blues-Waratahs match will be able to take part in the first-ever Waiata Singalong Series. The person behind it is the legendary Dame Hinewehi Mohi who told Perlina all about it.
Sassy Mama
21-04-2025
- Business
- Sassy Mama
You Can Now Easily Get High-Quality & Nutritious Ingredients From New Zealand Right Here In SG
Get ready to 'Discover A Taste of New Zealand' because Cold Storage and CS Fresh are bringing the best of Kiwi goodness to Singapore with premium food, live performances and more. As parents, making sure our kids are fed is one thing, but making sure they eat a nutritious, well-balanced meal is another. If you're searching for something you can feel good about feeding your family, you're in luck, because the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is partnering up with Cold Storage for a campaign where you can experience premium New Zealand products right here in Singapore! New Zealand Premium Food and Beverage So, what makes New Zealand produce so special? New Zealand is known for its ethical farming practices that prioritise quality, safety, and sustainability, making sure that every bite is as good as nature intended. These ethical farming practices go hand in hand with New Zealand's natural advantages such as clean air, lush pastures, fertile soils, and crystal-clear waters – all of which create the perfect conditions for nutritious, delicious food. It's no wonder New Zealand produce consistently wins international awards! From free-range poultry, grass-fed beef and lamb to GMO-free fruits, natural manuka honey, premium dairy and indulgent snacks, New Zealand offers food that's healthier, fresher, and ethically sourced, and are guaranteed to impress the pickiest little eaters in the family! 'Discover A Taste of New Zealand' in Singapore If you're keen to stock up your pantry with premium New Zealand products, head down to Cold Storage and CS Fresh stores islandwide to experience the best of New Zealand firsthand and learn more about where your food comes from! The three-week campaign (17 April to 7 May 2025) will run across 35 outlets, featuring well-loved New Zealand brands such as Anchor, Cookie Time, Meadow Fresh, Mother Earth, Otis, Rockit Apple, Tegel, Whittaker's, Zespri, Zeagold and more. That's not all, you can also shop from other well-loved New Zealand brands such as Comvita, Nice & Natural, Fourflax and K9 Natural, at Comvita x HoneyWorld stores, Lazada, Ace Asia Pet Care, and Kohepets respectively. The highly anticipated campaign kicked off with a launch event at Cold Storage Great World City last week, featuring special live cultural performances including a Kapa Haka and Waiata showcase by students from the Australian International School. If you missed the performances, not to worry—mark your calendars and head down to Cold Storage and CS Fresh to discover what makes New Zealand food so special! Made with Care: New Zealand food is safe, tasty, of premium quality, nutritious and ethical. 'Discover A Taste of New Zealand' fair, Cold Storage and CS Fresh stores islandwide,
Egypt Independent
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
New Zealand politicians sing as bill that sparked massive protests is ‘annihilated'
CNN — New Zealand politicians broke out in song Thursday after striking down a right-wing-backed proposal that opponents feared would erode indigenous rights. Tens of thousands of people – predominantly from the Māori community – had already taken to the streets to oppose the bill, which sought to redefine the terms of a treaty that British colonialists signed with the indigenous group more than 180 years ago. The proposal made global headlines when a video went viral of the nation's youngest legislator tearing the bill in two and leading a haka – a ceremonial Māori dance – in parliament. As the bill was voted down by 112 votes to 11 on Thursday, after an occasionally heated session, politicians from both sides of the house sang a Māori song, or Waiata, in celebration, marking the end of a bitter public debate. 'This bill hasn't been stopped, this bill has been absolutely annihilated,' said Hana-Rāwihti Maipi-Clarke, the MP who led the parliamentary haka during the earlier debate. The Treaty Principles Bill sought to define the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi – an agreement signed between the British Crown and a group of indigenous Māori leaders in the 1840s, which formalized New Zealand as a British colony and reserved Māori land and customary rights. Its proponent, David Seymour, argued parliament needed to define the principles of the treaty because definitions currently only existed in a series of court rulings made over decades – rather than in an act of parliament. His ACT Party – a minority party in the right-wing governing coalition – believes the current law has led to a society where Māori have been afforded different rights and privileges to non-Māori in New Zealand. Opponents said the courts had already settled the principles of the treaty and that the draft list Seymour put forward would erode indigenous rights and harm social cohesion. Speaking in parliament on Thursday, Labour MP Willie Jackson called the bill 'right-wing obscenity, masquerading as equality.' Labour's leader Chris Hipkins, the former prime minister, said the debate would be a 'stain on the country' and called the proposed law change a 'grubby little bill, born of a grubby little deal.' The bill was allowed to pass through to the select committee stage because the ACT Party had made it a condition of the coalition deal that helped put Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's ruling National Party into power. But the Nationals and the other party in the coalition, New Zealand First, never agreed to support the bill beyond the select committee stage. Luxon had tried to publicly distance himself and his party from it. Despite the overwhelming opposition, Seymour has vowed to 'never give up' on his efforts to change the law. 'The idea that your race matters is a version of a bigger problem, it's part of that bigger idea that our lives are determined by things out of our control,' he said in parliament on Thursday. 'Cremation day' Māori-Crown relations minister Tama Potaka, a National MP, hailed Thursday as 'cremation day' for the bill. 'It's dead, it's gone and (today) it will be buried,' he told CNN affiliate RNZ on Thursday. Prime Minister Luxon was not present in parliament as the bill was voted down, drawing the ire of those behind the public campaign against it. 'If you're the leader of this country and you've got a Bill in Parliament that had 300,000 submissions made on it, which broke every single record by a country mile, you would think that the leader of our country would want to be in Parliament for an occasion that big,' Tania Waikato, a lawyer for the Toitū te Tiriti campaign, told RNZ.
