E hoki mai ana ngā manu tīoriori o Aotearoa kia tautoko ai i te kaupapa kua puawaitia e ngā toka tū ō Waiata Anthems. Ki raro i te kapua o te ao waiata waihoki ngā reo rōreka o te tēnei ahunga. He tino kaupapa e haere ake nei kia whakanui i te tau 50 o te petihana, ngā rangatira i tō ai te kakano i te tau 1972 waihoki ngā kai waiata o ināianei e tuitui ana te reo māori ki o rātou waiata.
Kōkiritia e te iwi mātaki mai te pakipūmeka, waiata mai ēnei waiata ātaahua kia ora tonu te reo. Ka piki ake te hari me te koa, kia whakamāhorahora ai te ira o ngā waiata reo nei. E ngākau nui ana te rongo waihoki te waiata i ēnei waiata ki tēnei whenua haumako. He tino pūmanawa kua tae ki te wā e rongo whānuitia i ngā waiata reo maori, wehi nā i te kitenga atu i te tipuranga o tō tātou reo rangatira.
Hoki ōku mahara ki ōku tīpuna i whaiere i ngā kare-a-roto i waiatatia e rātou te hononga o ngā wai ki te ao tūroa me te ao wairua.
He whakareretanga tēnei mō ngā rangatira o te petihana, ngā tauira ō āpōpō waihoki tātou katoa. Nō reira e te iwi whakarongo ki ēnei waiata reo māori ka puta nei i tēnei wiki e whaiere ana te oro, te hā me te toiere o ngā kaiwaiata toa o Aotearoa.
Maumahara e te iwi hei tērā wiki kō Te Wiki o te Reo Maori, kia kaha te kōrero, kia maia te kupu, hoake!
Waiata Anthems is back along with some of New Zealand’s finest artists. As well as highlighting waiata, this year we not only celebrate te reo Māori but also the 50th Anniversary of the Māori language petition that was presented to parliament in 1972. Starting this week, we join the leaders of today through song and Reo to honor and celebrate those who stood for us 50 years ago.
How amazing is it that in this day in age we get to hear and listen to music that is completely in te reo Māori? It truly is a step towards the growth and revitalisation of Reo and is such an amazing opportunity for us to not only speak our cultural language but also to learn and teach. Co-founder, Dame Hinewehi Mohi touches on the impact of the movement below:
“The Waiata Anthems movement salutes these champions of te reo Māori and the legacy of waiata to inspire and excite the nation, providing greater access to the language and culture for all New Zealanders.”
Back with another documentary, Waiata Anthems returns to TVNZ OnDemand for Season 2 to showcase more Kiwi artists reworking their songs into Reo. From Lorde’s ‘Hine-i-te-Awatea/Oceanic Feeling’ to Tim Finn’s ‘Ono Marama Takerehāia/Six Months in a Leaky Boat’, each episode follows the artist’s journey on translating their works and finding out the deeper meanings through te reo Māori.
SEE ALSO: Waiata / Anthems TV Series: NZ Icons Find Their Power Through Te Reo
This is a legacy that has been carried for us and by us and we’re so blessed that as a nation we’re the only ones who are able to claim this culture. With Waiata Anthems, we think back to our ancestors who expressed every emotion and our connection to nature and all that surrounds it through music. The fact that we get to honor them through waiata is one of the best opportunities presented to us today.
Listen and enjoy Waiata Anthems Week from 5th – 11th September 2022 right before Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori and the 50th Anniversary of the Māori language petition on September 14th. You can also catch all episodes of Season 2’s docuseries on TVNZ On Demand here.
