Video from the Netherlands - The Hague - Venice and Cairns Press

From the Netherlands, we flew to beautiful Venice where we jumped on water taxis and headed off into this magical and ancient settlement ... We were there to support the two NZ artists featured at this years Venice Bienale and what an honour - also, to perform alongside Waka Huia - wonderful group.


Watch as Te Waka Huia file through the streets of Venice towards Piazzo St Marco:

http://blog.nzatvenice.com/2009/06/take-a-virtual-tour-with-waka-huia-through-the-streets-of-venice.html

NZ Venice Biennale venue

19 March 2009

New Zealand artists exhibiting at the 53rd Venice Biennale, have secured a new venue at La Maddalena church. Located on the Strada Nova, one of Venice’s main shopping throughfares, it is parallel to the Grand Canal between the railway station and the Rialto. La Maddalena is a rare example of 18th century architecture in Venice with the symbol of the Knights Templar above the main door of the church.

Established in 1895, the Venice Biennale is the world's oldest international forum for contemporary visual art, and attracts thousands of the world's most influential artists, curators, critics, gallery directors and collectors.

Music is a power

Rob Mellett -- Thursday, June 4, 2009, The Cairns Post

Maori musician and activist Moana Maniapoto, of Moana and the Tribe, tells Rob Mellett about what makes her tick

TACKLING the big themes – war, love and freedom – are the sources from which Moana Maniapoto’s finds her inspiration, providing a vivid backdrop to her vibrant
cultural consciousness.

The Maori vocalist and lyricist of Moana and the Tribe is speaking to timeOUT on her return from a protest down Auckland’s Queen St, demonstrating against what Maori perceive as their marginalisation by the New Zealand government. "It was an excellent day. Seven thousand people marching in wet and ugly weather. It shows what can be done," she says.

"Maori have always been vocal. But we are connecting with each other more now, to challenge the authorities which aren’t representing us." Moana (pronounced Mo-anna) has taken action wherever she perceives injustice, from the World Trade Organisation protests in Hong Kong, to the International March for Peace and Non-Violence recently held in New Zealand.

Consistently expanding the horizons of Maori music with her recordings and stunning performances, Moana and the Tribe are seen as the catalyst behind the recent international exposure of acts such as Te Vaka, Fat Freddy’s Drop and Wai.

Her musical journey as a professional seeking to forge a career from music began with first band Moana and the Moahunters, which played the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the Vancouver Folk Festival. Their remake of the classic Black Pearl scored them a gold single in NZ.

That group reshaped into the Tribe in 2002, fusing traditional Maori styles such as taonga puoro and haka and combining them with reggae, soul and RnB. The Tribe are now sought-after around the world.

They have been profiled on German and Italian TV, launched the NZ film Whale Rider in Germany and supported superstar Youssou N’Dour. Racking up more than 200 gigs internationally, the band have played to Kanak tribal villages in New Calendonia, as well as doing sell-out gigs in Russia.

Moana says: "We got invited to a private party in Russia, overlooking the Kremlin. It was just so surreal. Then we were asked to play the Musical Academy in Vladivostok. "It was an eye-opener to meet such lovely, lovely people. That’s what touring teaches you; that we are all the same."But Moana says singing for a visiting Nelson Mandela in Auckland was one of the highlights of her life.

Now, with the release of the fourth album, Wha, Moana says she is excited to be tapping into new depths."There are lots of different themes on Wha. We pay tribute to Maori soldiers who fought and died in Italy. The CD also features two archival pieces, made in the Western Desert by B Company of the 28th Maori Battalion.

"There were lots of special moments while recording it with Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper. What I like about Wha is that every song can be performed live."Moana was inspired several years ago to hark back to her Maori roots after visiting the US and watching an Afro-American gospel band.

"That’s when I decided there would be no more trying to sound like Beyonce. I love soul and reggae and saw Bob Marley when he played New Zealand in 1979. But I had to go back to the roots of my traditional music," she says.And by incorporating traditional Maori instruments like the roria – a finely whittled piece of bone – and the putatara – a conch shell with carved mouthpiece – Moana and the Tribe bring a spiritual element into their live shows.

Moana adds: "We are really looking forward to our Tanks show. It is our first time to Far North Queensland and we promise an unforgettable performance."

Moana and the Tribe -- Tanks Arts Centre, Friday, June 5

Moana and the Tribe

Having seen their showcase at the inaugural Australasian World Music Expo in Melbourne late last year, one can specially commend the Kiwi act Moana & The Tribe, who play the Tanks on Friday June 5th en-route to The Dreaming festival at Woodford. Moana Maniapoto and her troupe deftly fuse Maori taonga puoro (traditional instrumentation), haka and chants with RnB, soul, reggae and even classical elements. Visually striking, they will find the gothic atmosphere of the Tanks perfect.

Moana & The Tribe is not the only top-drawer Kiwi act playing the Tanks in June. Salmonella Dub is locked in for a concert on Saturday the 27th . They are Aotearoa's, and indeed the southern hemisphere’s, leading exponents of dub, the reggae dance music pioneered in Jamaica by production whizzes like Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and King Tubby. They have also delved into Maori culture Sal Dub’s most recent album, Feel The Seasons Change, marries a selection of songs from their back catalogue with ambient soundscapes, ancient Maori instruments and the majesty of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

In the landscape of New Zealand music, one genre stands out as a solid cornerstone – music by Maori artists.
Powerfully diverse, traditional music sun in Maori tongue has found a niche on mainstream radio and launched a depth of appeal to the commercial realm that was unexpected.
This popularity has enabled Indigenous singers to demonstrate their poetry and emotional relevance in an art form that now transgresses cultures.
One of the most distinctive, articulate and significant voices to emerge from this genre is Moana Maniapoto, whose politically conscious music has seen her perform at festivals around the globe.
Combining influences with her traditional instruments such as rock, soul, hip-hop and reggae, Moana has created her own stand-out style.
She’s been described as a “truly inspiring performing and recording artist” (The Beat, US, 2006) and has been credited as “laying the foundations for the recent international exposure of New Zealand acts” (Songlines, 2006).
Last year this multi-award winning artist and her band, The Tribe, made their debut Australian performance as part of the Australasian World Music Expo and so enamoured were audiences with her music that less than a year later this enigmatic performer is returning to Oz again.
My mountain meets your mountain, my river greets your river, my tribe greets your tribe – Moana and The Tribe.
www.entertainmentcairns.com/trad-maoricontemporary-event.html