It’s great to see more musicians using te reo Māori in their songs, and those songs getting more recognition these days. To celebrate Mahuru Māori 2024, here are three tracks in different genres.

Mokotron – Ōhākī

Mokotron (Ngāti Hine) uses some bass-heavy electronica, and an outstanding animated video by animator Simon Ward and visual artist James Paratii Lainchbury, as vehicles to carry the lyrics, which relate to the idea that: “An ōhākī is a deathbed speech, it can contain prophecy, the passing of the mantle of leadership, exhortations to the living, promises for the future. What ōhākī did [Queen] Elizabeth make? Before Kawiti died he prophesied in his ōhākī that his descendants should wait till a time when the sandfly nipped at the pages of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and at that time the people would rise up.“

Read more on Undertheradar.co.nz.

Even if you don’t usually listen to electronica, the video is worth checking out!

Kiko – Haurua

The band Kiko have already released several great songs (you might recall Ka Puta from a few years ago). Now they have a new track out called Haurua. Here’s the kaupapa behind it, from the NZ Music Commission website:

Made up of Rewi McLay (Ngāti Kahu/Ngāti Hine), Lukas Wharekura (Ngāti Kahungunu), Kara Gordon (Ngāi Te Rangi), Phillip Peters (Whānau a Apanui and Rangitāne) and Windon Bradfield – KIKO’s new single ‘Haurua’ explores the complexities of identity and growing up half-caste – with one foot in te ao Māori, and the other in the Western world. “It’s a thin line where two worlds meet,” says lead vocalist and guitarist Rewi. “‘Haurua’ is about the journey of pursuing one’s identity and navigating those worlds.”

Rei – Toitū

And now it’s time for some hip-hop, from Rei. The song Toitū is about, well, all things which endure: Te Tiriti, the heart, the land, the iwi. Full lyrics are in the description of the video on YouTube.

Read more about Rei on NZMusician.co.nz.