Urupounamu hosts Ngairo Eruera, Justine Murray and Te Kehukehu Patara. Photo: RNZ/Justine Murray
When the song 'Poi e' by the Patea Māori Club made the number one spot on the New Zealand Music charts, it made history. The showmanship of Prince Tui Teka left a lasting impression for many, and the contemporary mix of Māori music today Maimoa contain forward thinking messages for young Māori.
In the lead up to this years Waiata Māori Music Awards streamed online on October 9, Māori music both past and present is explored in episode two of Urupounamu.
As composers of kapahaka Bub and Pimia Wehi left a legacy within the performing arts community, both Waihirere and Te Waka Huia won the coveted top spot at Te Matatini over the years. For kapahaka performer Ngairo Eruera the depth of the songs and its messaging combined with choreographer proved a successful formula.
Born in Ruatāhuna Prince Tui Teka (1937-1985) played a number of instruments, he was a showman and with his clever wit, he made folks laugh, that's according to Te Kehukehu Patara who includes the song 'E Ipo' on his mixtape.
'Even when he entertained on stage he had that Māori ahua about him while he was entertaining people...he was a bit of a joker and good a singer at that" he says.
Whirimako Black's album 'Hinepūkohurangi - Shrouded in the Mist' contains songs that are karakia (prayers) or waiata tangi (lament) but have been re-purposed for the album with a contemporary sound or rhythm. The hosts discuss songs that feature on their playlist and end the show with the track 'Kei Hea Tāku Reo'.
Urupounamu is a kōrero session on kaupapa effecting Māori and focused on the tangata whenua experience in this forever changing modern world. RNZ Producer Justine Murray, Māori Language Kaiako, Ngairo Eruera, and Moana Radio host Te Kehukehu Patara, lay their whakaaro on the tēpu, challenge each other and themselves. Urupounamu will feature as a regular series on Te Ahi Kaa, it is recorded in the studio at Moana Radio station in Tauranga and is available as a podcast.
Te Kehukehu Patara Photo: RNZ/Justine Murray
Te Kehukehu Patara (Ngai te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui) is a host of the daily te reo Māori show Te Pae Moana on Moana Radio, a former crane operator at the Tauranga port for many years, he is a native speaker and has travelled the world with his superstar surfer grandson Kehu Butler. He enjoys spending time with his whanau, and still loves to surf.
Ngairo Eruera Photo: RNZ/Justine Murray
Ngairo Eruera (Ngāti Ranginui, Tuhoe, Ngāti Awa) is a Māori language kaiako and consultant at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, he is a member of the Waikato based kapahaka group Te Iti Kahurangi and after spending 20+ years in the Waikato moved back home to live with his whānau in Katikati. He enjoys working around home and in the māra, researching tribal and local history and working within communities to enhance communal knowledge.
Justine Murray Photo: RNZ/Justine Murray
Justine Murray (Ngai te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui) is the producer and presenter of Te Ahi Kaa the weekly kaupapa Māori programme at RNZ. Justine began her career in Iwi radio as a Journalist, announcer, copywriter and programme director, she is a writer, poet and is in her third year of studies at Te Whare Wānanga o Te Awanuiārangi in Whakatane. Justine enjoys spending time with whanau.
