Te Tohu Huia i te Reo Supreme Award Winner

Waiata Anthems | Universal Music New Zealand and Raukatauri Productions

Hinewehi Mohi’s ‘Waiata Anthems’ album wins the 2019 supreme award  – marking 20-years since the musician’s historic singing of the national anthem in Māori before an All Black test match.

“Hinewehi Mohi’s decision to sing the anthem in Māori now means New Zealand’s national anthem is sung in te reo as well as English: from All Black tests to schools, to town halls, to parliament. This wahine toa songstress helped change Aotearoa.” said Māori Language Commissioner, Professor Rawinia Higgins.

In the future we will look back on the road to revitalisation and see that day as the time Māori language broke through to become a key marker of our national identity.

 “This is reflected in the Waiata Anthems concept: singers of all backgrounds transforming their own songs into te reo Māori”.

This award is sponsored by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa