Waiata Anthems Week 2022 will see 20 of the finest artists in Aotearoa releasing brand new waiata reo Māori.
Along with the new music, a second season of the Waiata Anthems documentary series is coming alongside a wero (challenge) to us all to take part in a ‘champions of te reo Māori’ campaign via waiata.
Featured artists include Ladi6, Drax Project, Stan Walker, Lorde, Rei and Kora.
The new recordings will be available on all digital platforms from Friday September 2nd.
“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,” co-founder Dame Hinewehi Mohi said.
“Our hope is that, no matter where you are on your reo journey, you’ll feel empowered to become a champion of te reo Māori through waiata.”
Since its inception in 2019, the Waiata Anthems movement has supported the production and release of 100 new waiata, instrumental in the massive ground swell of streaming and broadcast of waiata reo Māori.
“Fifty years ago, it was unthinkable that waiata reo Māori could reach the hearts and minds, radios, phones and devices of so many," Māori language Commissioner Sir Tīmoti Kāretu said. "Today as a nation, we can reflect on our past and look to a bright future where te reo Māori in popular music is accessible to everybody."
“We hope these waiata become the soundtrack to our daily lives - a way to celebrate the big and small moments,” says Dame Hinewehi. The Waiata Anthems Week releases will coincide with a social media wero / challenge to celebrate and encourage the revitalisation of te reo Māori at scale.
For all of Mahuru Māori / September, using the hashtag #WaiataAnthems, the people of Aotearoa are invited to share on social media how they incorporate waiata into their everyday lives - whether by playing, streaming or buying waiata, singing along, or sharing it with others.
