Family Tree/Tō Kātua Whānau

In this te reo Māori version of Fly My Pretties song 'Family Tree', frontman Barnaby Weir sings and performs much of the instrumentation; mātanga reo (language expert) Wharenoka Wano provides the beat, on a drum from Parihaka. 'Tō Kātua Whānau' was released alongside an episode of Waiata Anthems, in which the personal meaning of the song is explored. Weir is on a journey to reconnect to his whakapapa, a link that was lost when his mother was adopted as a child. In the video directed by Waiata Anthems director Julia Parnell, Weir performs the track in the studio, and visits Parihaka. 

The new version of ‘Tō Kātua Whānau’ arrives alongside a studio recording of ‘Family Tree’ in English, which follows on from the most recent Fly My Pretties releases of The Studio Recordings Parts One & Two, presenting songs from the catalogue recorded in studio for the first time.

– A press release for the song, Loop website, 2 September 2022

Key Cast & Crew

Jeremy Star

Editor

Hinewehi Mohi

Executive Producer

Wharehoka Wano

Mātanga Reo (Language Consultant), Performer

Evan Howe

Cinematographer

Kayne Ngātokowhā Peters

Producer

Julia Parnell

Director, Producer