Ma¯ori language a song for top artists

Every year, Kiwi artists make a special effort to celebrate Ma¯ori Language Week by releasing new hits for New Zealanders to enjoy.

This year’s no different, with young rapper Rei and New Zealand music stalwart Dave Dobbyn offering up tracks to satisfy young, old and everyone in between.

DAVE DOBBYN - NAU MAI RA

Dave Dobbyn’s Welcome Home was an instant Kiwi classic, so it makes total sense for him to translate it into te reo and rerelease it to celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Ma¯ori.

He released it on Friday to pre-empt Ma¯ori Language week, after working with te reo expert Te Haumihiata Mason to get the translation. It was recorded with backing vocals from Maimoa from Ma¯ori TV’s Voices of Our Future.

Dobbyn says he was “moved” by the translation and that it was “such an honour to sing in te reo, a naturally poetic tongue”.

“It’s quite a challenge, but Te Hau is a great teacher and I was charmed by both her coaching and support from Maimoa.

“I don’t have any excuses now for not immersing myself in the language. It’s like learning to play a new instrument.”

REI - E KI

And breaking the more traditional mould of te reo music is young Ma¯ori rapper, Rei.

The 23-year-old has just released his first ever te reo Ma¯ori track which will “get you up for a kanikani in no time”.

“E Kı¯” is a commonly used phrase meaning “you don’t say”, and is a contemporary and super slick mash up of pop, hip-hop and dance hall about love and mana wahine, or female empowerment.

“Writing in Ma¯ori was just a natural progression for me,” says Rei.

“I have a degree in te reo Ma¯ori and I’ve been writing music for 10 years now. Time to start putting two and two together!”

The track is the first single from Rei’s upcoming Te Reo Ma¯ori EP soon to be released.

Rei will also perform an iconic hip-hop song in te reo exclusively for theHerald. To catch it, check back on our Te Wiki o Te Reo Ma¯ori series at midday during the week.

HGo to nzherald.co.nz to see the videos