One of the most horrific events of the New Zealand Wars, the invasion of Rangiaowhia is still not widely known.
A group of accomplished Māori musicians are creating music to change that.
Ria Hall, Mara TK, Rākai Whauwhau, and Hawkins have brought their skills as songwriters and composers together for an album project, Rangiaowhia.
The project is led by Oceans Before Me Charitable Trust which creates music about traumatic events impacting indigenous people, with the aim of promoting healing through waiata.
Rangiaowhia is an 10-track album featuring waiata written about the invasion of Rangiaowhia on 21 February 1864, and the subsequent rebuilding of the identity of the people there, Ngāti Apakura.
More than 100 people at the pā - half of the women, children and kaumātua who were living there - were murdered, raped or injured.
In preparation for the album, a number of wānanga were held with Rangatira from Ngāti Apakura, Tom Roa, Hazel Wander, Moepātu Borell and Bill Harris, so the artists could learn more about the atrocities from those who’ve lived it.
The first single, 'Ngāti Apakura', is an uplifting waiata calling for the iwi to stand tall and proud, while the recently released second single, Rangiaowhia is a call for people to return home.
“Part of the challenge as a songwriter is trying to find something useful, like a useful message - what's useful for the iwi from you as a songwriter,” Mara TK said.
“Some of [the songs] we want to look back, and others we kind of want to look forward.”
The full album is set for release next February at the 160th Commemoration of Rangiaowhia.
