Music talents shine

Whitireia music students and Tawaroa Kawana  from New Zealand’s Got Talent 2012, came together this week to practice and record, all in one day, a waiata written and produced by Tawaroa, for Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. 

The waiata, Arohatia tō reo, Love your Language, will be released on 1 July by the Māori Language Commission as part of the official launch of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, Māori Language Week.  It will form part of a campaign aimed at celebrating te reo Māori.

Whitireia music students Tuhan Tauira on bass, Ben Casbolt on drums, Lee Pryor on keyboard and Eli Ropata on guitar along with Roimata Neilson, Chad Va, Ihaka Tukapua and Rose Hanify as back up vocals, completed the music arrangement.

This has been a great collaboration opportunity for Whitireia staff and students said Gloria Hildred, Head of Music at Whitireia.  “It has provided the students involved with an opportunity  to showcase their talents and for them to put into practice what they have been learning on their music programme.”   John O’Connor, a Whitireia music staff member and music student Jake Foster engineered the recording while Phil Hornblow, another Whitireia music staff member took care of the music arrangement.

Working with Whitireia on the recording of this waiata has been great said Glenis Philip-Barbara, Chief Executive, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori.  “I am really impressed with the talent of the students and how well they have worked with Tawaroa and his waiata.  It’s all just come together, its been great and exciting to work together on this.”

The aim of the waiata is to reach a rangatahi – a youth audience, with the hope of inspiring them to learn the Māori language.  The waiata has been recorded entirely in te reo Māori.

This year marks the 38th anniversary of Māori Language Week which started in 1975.