New Zealand singer Moana Maniapoto will be inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame at the 2016 APRA Silver Scroll Awards later this month.
The Invercargill-born singer (Ngāti Tūwharetoa/Tūhourangi-Ngāti Wahiao) came to prominence in 1987 with the song 'Kua Makona' from her group, Moana and the Moahunters.
She later went on to form the group Moana and the Tribe in the early 2000s, known for their fusion of waiata, haka and electronic-flavoured soul.
In 2004, Maniapoto was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order or Merit, and in 2005 was made a lifetime recipient of the Tohu Mahi Hou a Te Waka Toi Award for her contribution to Māori art. In 2008, she received a Music Industry Award at the Māori Waiata Awards.
"Her achievements, which continue today, as an award-winning writer, artist, filmmaker, band member and activist are many and varied," says head of New Zealand operations APRA AMCOS Anthony Healey.
"But the unifying strand that runs through all of them is music.
"She has shown people here that music is a language to unify, educate, advocate, understand, inspire, comfort and forgive, and she has taken that message around the world, leading the way for artists everywhere, encouraging and empowering them to do the same."
The New Zealand Music Hall of Fame began in 2007 and has already honoured Ray Columbus, Hello Sailor, The Topp Twins, Straitjacket Fits, Shihad, Dragon, Herbs, Dave Dobbyn, Supergroove, the Exponents Jordan Luck, Johnny Devlin, Hirini Melbourne & Richard Nunns, The Fourmyula, Toy Love, Shona Laing, Bill Sevesi and Douglas Lilburn.
The Silver Scroll Awards will take place at Auckland's Vector Arena on September 29 with broadcaster John Campbell as MC.
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