WAI
Māori Electronica Roots Music
With the many great footsteps, we have followed, and the path imprinted in our minds by those who came before us and those who come after us we now present the WAI journey.
Featured track
Photos courtesy of Jeonghun Seo, South Korea
Tragic personal events led to partners in life and music Mina Ripia and Maaka Phat creating
the now family Porirua based Māori Electronica Roots band WAI for the memory of Mina's pāpā Ture Tangata.
WAI is the Māori word for Water and is also Mina's birth name.
WAI a startlingly original combination of the ancient and the modern.
WAI weave the Māori language with its natural percussive flow and Poi with synths and drums creating a sound
as soulful and funky as any music while sounding not remotely like anything heard before.
Performing entirely in the Māori language WAI utilizes a Māori style of presenting their music
not only in the structure and fusion but also in the delivery of their live show.
Internationally WAI is known and loved for their unique Māori electronica. As they traveled the world their audience and opportunities broadened and this led them to create a minimalist but very powerful acoustic performance set.
Their music appeals to and has the ability to cross all boundaries regardless of language, age, colour, race or creed.
Since 1999 WAI has been raising the awareness of Māori artistic expression both nationally and internationally.
WAI has performed at numerous high profile international events and has been
recognized and acknowledged as innovators in their field breaking new ground
and fearlessly going where no Māori language bands have been before.
By only performing 100% in Te Reo Māori WAI are one of the few original Māori music groups
at the coal face of pioneering international opportunities for the development of Māori language music.
Producer’s Mina and Maaka Phat strive to craft a distinctive Māori voice that is traditional in its
inspiration, creativity, innovation and that is unique, authentic, and sounds like where it originates, AOTEAROA.
A strong reflection of cultural pride is the essence and sound of WAI.
International live performances have put WAI alongside world music greats At Adau, Nitin Sawhney, BLACKFIRE, Yat-Kha, Ojos de Brujo, Manu Chao, Yasmin Levy, Mariza, Trio Mocotó and the beautiful ADJÁGAS just to name a few.
WAI had a well-deserved break from touring internationally to have a family and to raise their son Uta Te Whanga. 2013 saw the now WAI family return to the Northern Hemisphere after receiving an invitation to return to Belgium. This their first International tour since having their beautiful son as he has been their priority.
Uta Te Whanga the newest WAI member joining WAI on this tour in Belgium and Copenhagen.
Internationally Uta Te Whanga has since toured Seattle, Jeonju & Seoul, South Korea, Melbourne, Australia, Charlottesville Virginia, Colorado Springs, Yilan, Taipei, and Uta Te Whanga was very excited to be heading
to the Island of Borneo, Kuching, Sarawak July 2019 to take part in the Rainforest World Music Festival.
MINAAKA MUSIC
Ko maunga Toka Toka, Tutamoe, Raho me Ruapehu ngā maunga, Ko Wairoa me Manawatu ngā awa,
Ko Ngāti Whātua me Ngāti Raukawa ngā Iwi, ko Mina raua ko Maaka Phat māua, arā ka puta mai a Minaaka!
1998 we establish our Porirua based family-owned business Minaaka. For over three decades we have dedicated our lives to the revitalisation and everyday use of the Māori language through the medium of music. Minaaka have also created a niche as an audio company which has allowed us to survive in a very competitive audio production industry. This has seen Minaaka receive and work on many award nominated and winning works.
International Te Reo Māori artist the WAI family has achieved a number of “world firsts” for Māori language music,
arts and culture. WAI have worked extremely hard to create opportunities for Māori language artists.
It is through the relationships that have been built, and reputation that WAI has established, that provides Minaaka
with the opportunity to represent ngā waiata Māori I roto I Te Reo Māori to world stages.
Over the past 25 years of living in Porirua Minaaka Music have created many Māori language performance
platform opportunities. Due to the uncertainty that Covid presented us this is how we survive as
Māori language artists whom only sing in te reo Māori.
Singing in te reo Māori is Mina's life and it’s Mina's passion to keep the arts
and in particular Te Reo Māori music at the forefront of hearts and minds.
ENDLESS GRATITUDE
We are proud, honoured, and humbled that the powerful sound of the WAI family resonated
on the beautiful island of Borneo, Kuching, Sarawak as part of the 2019 Rainforest World Music Festival.
On behalf of the WAI family thank you all for the great experience we had been apart of the festival.
It was an honour for us to visit Sarawak and we hope it’s not our last. Great friendships and memories
were made so thank you, thank you, thank you. Everyone made us feel like we were at home especially
the fabulous and fantastic Anselm Hi'ilawe and the beautiful At Adau family.
Maaka Fiso it was an honour to travel to Borneo, Malaysia and share the international stage with you.
We look forward to our next adventure. Much love and gratitude.
WAI would also like to acknowledge all past and present members
and special guest who feature on both 100% and ORA.
And last but not the least, to all our whānau and friends that we haven’t mentioned,
please know we appreciate all your continued love and support.
Thank you for looking through our site!
For any further information please email waimusic@xtra.co.nz
We would love to hear from you.
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