Moana

Moana Maree Maniapoto (born 22 June 1961) is a New Zealand singer, songwriter and documentary maker. She is widely considered one of New Zealand's most successful indigenous acts, and her music is described as a fusion of traditional Māori haka, chants and taonga pūoro, with contemporary soul, reggae and classical styles. Her Māori father, Nepia Tauri Maniapoto, was of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Te Arawa descent. Her Southland-born mother, Bernadette Elizabeth Margaret (née Honywood; 1936–2025), was of Irish and English heritage. Maniapoto attended St Joseph's Māori Girls' College in Napier and completed her secondary school education at McKillop College, Rotorua. She is said to have paid her way through Auckland law school by singing covers in the highly competitive Auckland club circuit.

Career 1986–1998: Moana and the Moahunters In 1986, Moana debuted as a solo artist and released "Kua Makona" as a part of a campaign for the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand. The song was produced by Maui Dalvanius Prime and peaked at number 27 on the RIANZ singles chart. In 1989, Moana formed Moana and the Moahunters with Teremoana Rapley and Mina Ripia.

In 1990, Moana and the Moahunters released "Black Pearl" which peaked at number 2 on the national charts in 1991, earning Moana her first gold. The song was nominated for several awards in 1991. The band released their debut album Tahi in August 1993.

The band's second album, Rua, combined pop, hip-hop and Māori music. The songs on the album dealt with themes such as spirituality and prophecy, and the album cover used traditional Māori symbols. Other songs discussed colonial issues, such as the Treaty of Waitangi, signed between the Māori people and the British government in the 1840s. The group scored a gold record in New Zealand and a hit single. Moana retired the group after performing at the 1998 Vancouver Folk Festival.

Promotion of Māori culture

Moana and the Moahunters were well known for pioneering a distinctively Māori form of popular music, during a period when Māori language and culture was not as widely accepted or promoted as today.

2002–present: Moana and the Tribe

In 2002, Moana formed the band Moana and the Tribe which consisted of a large group of musicians and performers with a passion for Māori culture. Since their formation, the band has become one of the most successful indigenous bands to emerge from New Zealand.

In May 2008, Moana released Wha. She toured in 2008 and 2009 Germany, Australia, Netherlands, Turkey, New Zealand and performed at the opening of the Biennale in Venice / Italy in June 2009. Moana & the Tribe launched songs from their 5th album Rima in 2014 at Womad NZ.

In 2014, Moana and her band formed the Boomerang Collaboration with Scottish band Breabach, Shellie Morris, Casey Donovan and Djakapurra, playing concerts at Womad NZ, Sydney Opera House and HebCelt (Scotland). Rima was a finalist at the 2015 Vodafone NZ Music Awards and the song "Upokohue" was a finalist in the APRA Maioha Award. It won 2nd place in the World category at the International Songwriting Contest.

Other activities Moana is one half of an award-winning film-making team led by her partner and band member Toby Mills. Their documentary work includes Guarding the Family Silver, which screened in the National Geographic All Roads Film Festival and The Russians are Coming, which played at the Sydney Opera House during the Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival in 2012.

Recognition Moana won the grand prize at the 2003 International Songwriting Competition with her song "Moko". In 2003, New Zealand Herald described Moana's music as "music of great depth and beauty".

In the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours, Moana was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori and music. She is also a Life Time Recipient of the Toi Iho Māori Made Mark and received the 2005 Te Tohu Mahi Hou a Te Waka Toi Award from Te Waka Toi (Creative N.Z.), in recognition of her outstanding leadership and contribution to the development of new directions in Māori art. Moana received a Music Industry Award at the Maori Waiata 2008 Awards, also for her positive contribution to Māori Music.

Discography Studio albums + List of studio albums, with New Zealand chart positions Title Album details Peak chartpositionsNZ Tahi (as Moana and the Moahunters) Released: August 1993 Label: Southside Records, Festival Records (D30787) Format: CD, Cassette 16 Rua (as Moana and the Moahunters) Released: February 1998 Label: Tangata (TANGCD532) Format: CD, cassette 24 Toru (as Moana & the Tribe) Released: 2003 Label: Format: CD – Wha (as Moana & the Tribe) Released: 2008 Label: Ode Records (BP001) Format: CD – Acoustic (as Moana & the Tribe) Released: 2010 Label: RAJON (RRCD44) Format: CD Recorded in 2004 in Helen Young Studios, Auckland – Rima (as Moana & the Tribe) Released: September 2014 Label: Black Pearl Format: DD –

Compilation albums + List of compilations Title Album details The Best of Moana & The Tribe (as Moana and the Moahunters) Released: February 2012 Label: Blackpearl Format: DD

Extended plays + List of EP, with New Zealand chart positions