Moana Maniapoto

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Moana Maniapoto, MNZM

Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Pikiao

Moana Maniapoto undertook a law degree after school, she finished and passed the bar exams, but the more she learnt how law had been a tool of colonisation in Aotearoa, the less she wanted to practice. Instead she turned to her true passion – singing live onstage –and she’s never looked back. 

In 2004, Maniapoto became the first non-American to win a major United States-based songwriting contest for her waiata Moko – which beat over 11,000 compositions to win the Grand Jury Prize. This illustrious singer has received many more accolades including becoming a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (2004), Te Tohu Mahi Hou a Te Waka Toi from Creative New Zealand (2005), the New Zealand Laureate (2007) and, in 2016, she was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.

Watch this excerpt from a Marae, live studio interview with Maniapoto after the announcement of her New Zealand Order of Merit.

Find out more about Moana Maniapoto:

Read Moments Like These: Moana Maniapoto , by Trevor Reekie.

Visit the website of Moana Maniapoto. 

Image: Screengrab from Marae.