Singing the songs of our seas

From reindeer herders to the Borneo rainforest Moana Maniapoto has performed around the world. Next on her list is Upper Hutt. The art laureate is bringing her band Moana and the Tribe to Expressions Whirinaki for an evening of songs and stories about our waterways on April 26.

The band’s tour of My Name is Moana started off in the South Island and they’re making their way up the country.

‘‘It’s lovely to see people in the smaller towns. You learn a lot from locals and there’s a really powerful response from them,’’ Maniapoto said.

My Name is Moana explores the connections New Zealanders have to water, especially as freshwater ways and ocean bed environments come under threat from influences such as global warming.

The band has downsized for their New Zealand

‘‘You’ll have a few laughs, you might have a sing-a-long and a bit of a dance-a-long.’’