Maimoatia

Chart topping waiata 'Maimoatia' (meaning 'cherish it') urges people to speak te reo — with confidence — regardless of their skill level. Twelve Māori artists, most of whom featured on rangatahi series Pūkana, sing along with children for the music video. The project was initiated by the producers of the show. Written for Māori Language Week in 2016 with help from Te Reo Māori exponent Haumihiata Mason, the waiata sprang to the top of New Zealand iTunes chart, overtaking Justin Timberlake. The performers featured in 2017 reality show Voices of Our Future. In 2020 they released album Rongomaiwhiti, under the name Maimoa.

It just goes to show that you can record a song with a catchy tune and all be in te reo Māori and it can still do great things, it doesn't have to be in English and it doesn't have to be sung by Beyonce.

– Pūkana producer Marama Gardiner in an interview with Radio New Zealand, 11 July 2016

Key Cast & Crew

Te Hemara Rauhihi

Co-Director

Marama Jones

Co-Director, Producer