Waiata Anthems - 2023 Documentaries

I would definitely say to anyone else wanting to search for their place, and their culture and the language, to literally just go for it. There is no one timeline, there is no one way. If you want to pursue te reo, it's for you.

– Singer/songwriter Holly Cameron aka Yahyah on reconnecting through te reo Māori

'Ko Au' was written specifically about going through my identity crisis. It’s a song to help others to help others to not feel ashamed of who they are. It doesn’t relate just to Māori. It’s for anyone. Don’t be ashamed of your culture and who you are. And don’t be afraid to shout it out to the world.

– Singer Pipiwharauroa Campbell on his waiata 'Ko Au', The NZ Herald, 1 May 2023

I was really confused about who I was because people kept telling me I’m not who I am, I’m not Māori because I don’t look it. I’d say (the song) got me through a lot of hard times when I really didn’t know who I am and it’s just my way of telling myself I am who I am and no one else can change that or tell me differently.

– Rotorua teenager Nikau Grace on writing her waiata Tōkū Tuakiri, The NZ Herald, 28 May 2023

As a young woman, a gal, a wahine, to be asked to be a part of such an iconic song was kind of mind-blowing and weird, but also so wonderful.

– Georgia Lines on being asked to sing on a remix of 1990s te reo pop song 'AEIOU'

Yeah it is different working with non-Māori artists. I can see that there's a little bit more fear there sometimes, because they're not Māori. But the biggest thing for me is that they give it a go.

– Language Consultant Tawaroa Kawana on working with Pākehā artist Georgia Lines

..we've just had the first rehearsal, and it sounds beautiful and I'm so excited, I'm so excited to hear it.

– London-based musician Len Blake hears her waiata sung by the Ngāti Rānana London Māori Club

What's weird about giving birth is that everything's rooted in fear, but it happens almost every second of every day, successfully.

– Singer Geneva AM on her philosophy around childbirth, an inspiration for her waiata

Te reo's beautiful because it's an inheritance that we have, and a bridge that we have that connects us to all of our stories, lineage, heritage, and that is who we are: we are our heritage, we are our history...

– Reti Hetley from soul band IA, on the importance of te reo in his life

When I sing in te reo it opens up a part of my soul that hasn't been touched before...why would I not want to pursue that?

– Singer Holly Cameron (aka Yahyah) on singing in te reo Māori

As members of the band said, when we heard the mix for the first time, we said, this is how the song truly should sound.

– Bleeders singer Angelo Munro on translating their song 'All That Glitters' into te reo Māori, Stuff, 15 July 2023

It was a great privilege given the song was out 20 years ago, and it's probably one of our more well-known tracks.

– Barnaby Weir of The Black Seeds on translating song 'So True' into te reo, Newshub, 13 September 2023

Over the years of playing this song for such a long time, we almost wanted to stop playing the song because we played it so much. I personally, had to learn to love it again for what that song does for people. In Māori it just sounds beautiful you know? It's a great way to just revitalise a song again.

– Daniel Weetman from The Black Seeds on how translating an old song can give it new life

'All That Glitters' in te reo Māori is about being done with the old and starting something new — having self-autonomy, rangatiratanga.

– Bleeders vocalist Angelo Munro, at the start of their episode

I come from the punk rock background — 'eff the system' — and now I'm like, the way to change the system is from within.

– Former punk rocker Angelo Munro on working with Māori in the justice system

We are rough, rugged and raw but still beautiful.

– Rastafarian musician Chad Chambers, at the start of episode three

Our mountain is not one that can be moved, Maunga Marotiri will always stand strong.

– Chad Chambers on his iwi recovering after Cyclone Gabrielle, in episode three

I was lucky to grow up in te ao Māori, but there was a time there in my life I didn't speak any reo any more. Refused to teach my kids. I didn't want a bar of being Māori.

– Corella vocalist Pipiwharauroa Campbell introduces his journey back to te ao Māori