Moana (singer)
Encyclopedia
Moana Maree Maniapoto MNZM
(born 22 June 1961) is a New Zealand
singer, songwriter and documentary maker.
Both her recorded and stage performances have seen the band, Moana and the Tribe
, tour throughout the world, performing over 120 international concerts since their formation in 2002 and cementing their reputation as one of the most successful indigenous bands to emerge from New Zealand
.
The band's CD Toru entered the European World Music Charts at 17. The CD was followed up a year later with the DVD Live & Proud (Pirate / Sony Records.). A one hour TV special on Moana & the Tribe outrated Lenny Kravitz and Santana on a rival channel when Bavarian Television screened the band's Chiemsee Summer Festival performance. Moana & the Tribe represented New Zealand at the Cultural Olympiads in both Sydney (1998) and Athens (2003). Moana won the grand prize at the 2003 International Songwriting Competition
with her song "Moko". In 2004, the group included Spain into a European tour for the first time. The band headlined the Etnosur Festival in Jaen to an audience of 5000, where they appeared live on Spanish TV news and received excellent reviews.
Described as ‘brilliant’ by The Beat (USA, 2004), ‘New Zealand's most exciting music export’ (Marie Claire, 2002), ‘music of great depth and beauty’ (New Zealand Herald, 2003) and gaining two rave reviews from a reputedly scathing critic in Germany's largest daily newspaper (Süddeutsche Zeitung 2002, 2004), Moana has developed her profile.
In the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours List, Moana was appointed Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
.
In 2006, Moana and the Tribe completed a 25 gig tour of Europe and had the distinction of being the first New Zealand band known to have performed in the former Soviet Union
- playing at a private party hosted in Moscow
's First Club, then at Le Club.
Moana released her fourth album Wha in May 2008. She toured in 2008 and 2009 Germany, Australia, Netherlands, Turkey, New Zealand and performed at the opening of the Biennale in Venice / Italy in June 2009. In 2010 Moana & the Tribe have performed at the World Expo in Shanghai/China and also in Taiwan.
She is a former pupil of St Joseph's Māori Girls' College
in Napier.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(born 22 June 1961) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
singer, songwriter and documentary maker.
History
As a performing and recording artist, Moana has pushed the boundaries of Māori music with her unique blend of traditional Maori musical elements and contemporary western grooves.Both her recorded and stage performances have seen the band, Moana and the Tribe
Moana and the Moahunters
Moana and the Moahunters , was a Māori hip-hop and roots group from New Zealand, led by singer Moana that actively promoted Māori culture, traditions and history through their music....
, tour throughout the world, performing over 120 international concerts since their formation in 2002 and cementing their reputation as one of the most successful indigenous bands to emerge from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
The band's CD Toru entered the European World Music Charts at 17. The CD was followed up a year later with the DVD Live & Proud (Pirate / Sony Records.). A one hour TV special on Moana & the Tribe outrated Lenny Kravitz and Santana on a rival channel when Bavarian Television screened the band's Chiemsee Summer Festival performance. Moana & the Tribe represented New Zealand at the Cultural Olympiads in both Sydney (1998) and Athens (2003). Moana won the grand prize at the 2003 International Songwriting Competition
2003 International Songwriting Competition
The 2003 International Songwriting Competition was a songwriting competition held in 2003.-Pop/Top 40:First placeSecond place-Rock:First placeSecond place-Folk/Singer-songwriter:First placeSecond place-AAA/Roots/Americana:First placeSecond place...
with her song "Moko". In 2004, the group included Spain into a European tour for the first time. The band headlined the Etnosur Festival in Jaen to an audience of 5000, where they appeared live on Spanish TV news and received excellent reviews.
Described as ‘brilliant’ by The Beat (USA, 2004), ‘New Zealand's most exciting music export’ (Marie Claire, 2002), ‘music of great depth and beauty’ (New Zealand Herald, 2003) and gaining two rave reviews from a reputedly scathing critic in Germany's largest daily newspaper (Süddeutsche Zeitung 2002, 2004), Moana has developed her profile.
In the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours List, Moana was appointed Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
.
In 2006, Moana and the Tribe completed a 25 gig tour of Europe and had the distinction of being the first New Zealand band known to have performed in the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
- playing at a private party hosted in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
's First Club, then at Le Club.
Moana released her fourth album Wha in May 2008. She toured in 2008 and 2009 Germany, Australia, Netherlands, Turkey, New Zealand and performed at the opening of the Biennale in Venice / Italy in June 2009. In 2010 Moana & the Tribe have performed at the World Expo in Shanghai/China and also in Taiwan.
She is a former pupil of St Joseph's Māori Girls' College
St Joseph's Māori Girls' College
St Joseph's Māori Girls' College or Hato Hōhepa is an integrated, boarding and day college in Taradale, New Zealand for girls in Year 9 to Year 13.-History:St Joseph's Māori Girls' College was founded in 1867 by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions...
in Napier.
Albums
- Tahi (1993) - as Moana and the MoahuntersMoana and the MoahuntersMoana and the Moahunters , was a Māori hip-hop and roots group from New Zealand, led by singer Moana that actively promoted Māori culture, traditions and history through their music....
- Rua (1998) - as Moana and the MoahuntersMoana and the MoahuntersMoana and the Moahunters , was a Māori hip-hop and roots group from New Zealand, led by singer Moana that actively promoted Māori culture, traditions and history through their music....
- Toru (2003) - as Moana
- Live & Proud (2003) - as Moana & The Tribe
- Live (2004 - as Moana & The Tribe
- Wha (album) Wha (2008) - as Moana & The Tribe
- Acoustic (album) Acoustic (2010) - as Moana & The Tribe