Ria Hall

Ria Hall (born 1982 or 1983) is a Māori recording artist, singer-songwriter, television presenter, and political candidate. She has released two solo albums, Rules of Engagement, which topped the Official New Zealand Music Chart shortly after its release, and Manawa Wera (2020). Her work reflects Māori society and history, and Hall regularly sings in Māori as well as English.

Born in Tauranga with an extensive background in kapa haka, she moved to Wellington in her early twenties to attend university and launch her music career. She initially fronted the reggae band Hope Road. After sporadically performing with other contemporary Māori musical acts, such as TrinityRoots, Hall rose to prominence after performing the New Zealand national anthem for the opening ceremony of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Her self-titled debut EP, released that year, won Best Māori Album at the 2012 New Zealand Music Awards. Her debut album Rules of Engagement is a concept album about the Tauranga Campaign, specifically the Battle of Gate Pā, featuring contributions from Tiki Taane and Che Fu. Hall would later win Best Māori Female Artist at the Waiata Māori Music Awards for the work. Her second album Manawa Wera featured collaborations with Rob Ruha and L.A.B, and peaked at number 10 on the Official Albums Chart. Her song 'Te Ahi Kā Pō' won the APRA Silver Scroll in 2021.

Hall has also had a prominent career as a television presenter on Whakaata Māori (formerly Māori Television), one of New Zealand's two state-owned indigenous television networks. She has also collaborated with Stan Walker, Maisey Rika, and Troy Kingi. Having long been involved in advocacy for the Bay of Plenty, in 2024 Hall announced her candidacy for Mayor of Tauranga in the 2024 Tauranga mayoral election, part of the first local elections since the 2021 suspension of Tauranga's local government. She came third.

Life and career Hall was born in 1982 or 1983 in Maungatapu, Tauranga, where she grew up on marae with her three older sisters. At secondary school she became interested in singing through kapa haka and later joined the kapa haka group Waka Huia. One of Hall's musical influences as a teenager was Che Fu's 1998 album 2 B.S. Pacific, which she reportedly listened on repeat when studying for her final exams at secondary school. Hall has said the album "changed the entire hip-hop, soul and R&B scene in New Zealand... It was such a necessary record at the time. I just found it really inspiring that he was Māori/Niuean and representing unashamedly what was possible in the New Zealand music scene for someone of a Polynesian persuasion."

Hall later moved to Wellington in 2006, where she studied political science at Victoria University of Wellington. There, she formed the reggae band Hope Road. She sang at the opening ceremony for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and released her debut self-titled EP in 2011, which won Best Māori Album at the 2012 New Zealand Music Awards. In 2013 Hall featured as a guest vocalist on Stan Walker's single "Like It's Over". From 2012 to 2013, she was a presenter on Māori Television's AIA Marae DIY. She won the title of Best Māori Female Artist at the Waiata Māori Music Awards for the work. These were the first local elections in Tauranga since the 2021 suspension of its city council. In a press release, Hall was described as a longtime political advocate for Tauranga through her music. She congratulated him and said running for council was an "absolute privilege". She grew up listening to reggae, soul, hip hop and R&B, and her mother listened to country music.

Released: 27 October 2017 Label: Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa Format: CD, digital download, streaming

Released: 28 February 2020 Label: Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa Format: CD, digital download, streaming

Extended plays

Title Album details Peak chart positions NZ Label: Tu Taniwha Entertainment Format: CD, digital download, streaming 20

Singles

As featured artist

Promotional singles

Title Year Album "Rangatira / Owner" 2021 Kono 003

Guest appearances Title Year Other artists Album "I Ngā Wā, Taumaha Ai (Bridge Over Troubled Water)" 2010 Tipi Haere Te Reo "He Hoa Tāku, Tōmuri Rawa (Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby)" "Tihore Mai te Rangi" 2012 He Rangi Paihuarere (A Tribute to the Late Dr. Hirini Melbourne) "Falling Angels" 2014 Tiki Taane, Maitreya, the Auckland Gospel Choir "So Amazing" Whenua Patuwai The Soul Sessions "Nana's Song" Tiki Taane With Strings Attached (Alive & Orchestrated) "The Deeds of Mercy" 2017 Paul McLaney Play On "Ka Ihi te Moana" Rob Ruha, The Witch Dr. Survivance "Aotearoa (English version)" 2019 Stan Walker, Troy Kingi, Maisey Rika Faith Hope Love "Amine" 2020 Ka Hao Mōhau (Live Visual Album) "E Tama Hikairo" 2022 Te Matatini, Ōpōtiki-Mai-Tawhiti