Welcome to Tupe Dreams
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Welcome to Tupe Dreams *
Tupe Dreams celebrates the voices, stories, and creativity of Moana Nui a Kiwa and connecting our communities through shared imagery, storytelling, and the
‘What’s In Your Kete?’ podcast.
What’s In Your Kete? Melodie Turori
Imagine being raised on Luiseño land in California and finding out at the tende age of 16 years old, that you were from a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean that you didn't even know existed - the beautiful Cook Islands 🌊🌊🌊
Melodie Turori joins us for episode four and shares her story about returning to the Cook Islands with her family for the first time; connecting to the land, feeling her tupuna and reflecting on her time in Aotearoa. She also shares highlights from her Pasifika Transmissions documentary project 'The Future Behind Us' and explains the importance of the Pacific festivals like Pacific Islands Festival Association (PIFA) and Festival of Pacifica Arts and Culture (festPAC) for the US diaspora.
Melodie Turori - circa 2006
November Recap in Te Ao Māori
Today we reflect on the impact of the Hīkoi Mō Te Tiriti, alongside the parliamentary protest haka led by Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke.
This past month in November has been impactful throughout Te Ao Māori. A nationwide hikoi (march) against injustice, powerful parliamentary protests, and a surge of global attention on Māori affairs has highlighted the importance of fighting for what you believe in.
Join us as we reflect on the impact of the Hīkoi Mō Te Tiriti, alongside the parliamentary protest haka by Māori MPs.
Hīkoi Mō Te Tiriti
In response to the controversial Treaty Principles bill from the New Zealand Coalition Government, thousands marched from Te Kao, at the top of Te Ika a Māui / North Island to the steps of Parliament in Pōneke / Wellington.
As the days continued, more people from across the country joined the growing number of hikoi participants .
The Toitū Te Tiriti movement was started by a collective of Māori who wanted to show the strength of tangata whenua and tangata tiriti working together for the betterment of our country.
It was inspiring to see this kaupapa build on the foundations of both the 1975 Land March, and the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed March.
This article by RNZ discusses how members of both previous hikoi attended the Hīkoi Mō Te Tiriti this year to continue the kaupapa in this latest iteration.
As the Toitū Te Tiriti movement say: Toitū Te Tiriti is tupuna inspired, tiriti led, mana motuhake driven and
mokopuna focused.
This was reflected in the amazing attendance for the final portion of the hikoi on day 9.
A sea of people gathered outside Parliament, united in peaceful resistance and kotahitanga (solidarity). Estimates of the crowd range from 17,000 to 100,000— but one thing is clear: the turnout was massive. Aerial and rooftop photos capture the sheer scale of this historic hikoi, as the streets overflowed with protestors standing strong for justice.
Image Credit: Te Ao News
Several live streams on Facebook and through local news media captured powerful speeches from Māori community leaders, including Stan Walker, and Rawiri Waititi, highlighting the importance of the event.
Eru Kapa-Kingi, a key figure in the Toitū Te Tiriti movement, spoke to the day’s significance for Māori, past and present:
“If Te Tiriti and Tangata Whenua are well, then we are all well. If we can thrive on this whenua, everyone eats from the marae, and no one is left behind. That’s the future we’re heading towards— but we must believe.”
The kaupapa resonated not just with Māori, but with many tauiwi too. It was inspiring to see people from across cultures—Asian, Pasifika, Middle Eastern— unite in solidarity for a future of togetherness between Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti (people of the land and people of the treaty).
A positive outcome from the hikoi: by 25 November, 2024 over 3000 Māori had enrolled on the Māori electoral roll.
This is crucial for ensuring tangata whenua’s representation in Parliament, amplifying Māori voices across Aotearoa, and reflecting our 20% share of the population— nearly one million Māori nationwide.
With the growing call for Tino Rangatiratanga, now is the time to stand up and fight for a better future in Aotearoa.
Ka Mate performed in Parliament
Ka Mate, the haka composed by Te Rauparaha of Ngāti Toa was performed by Māori MPs during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill.
This process started when David Seymour and the ACT Party introduced this bill in late 2023, in their own words repeatedly claiming it’s about ensuring ‘equal rights’ for all Kiwis.
However closer analysis of the bill shows how it undermines Māori rights as outlined in the Treaty of Waitangi.
Experts including Māori lawyer Riana Te Ngahue (Ngāti Porou) have explained how this bill is detrimental to Māori and contradicts what is outlined in both the Māori and English versions of the Treaty.
So when the bill was presented to Parliament for a first hearing, Te Pāti Māori were asked for their vote.
In response, Te Pāti Māori MP Hana Rawhiti Maipi Clarke tore up the paper containing her party’s votes and led a haka with her other party members.
Standing in solidarity with Hana were Peeni Henare and Willie Jackson of the Labour Party
The global community quickly took notice of Hana and the Māori MPs who joined her in the haka, flooding social media with support.
A TikTok reel released by Whakaata Māori of Hana leading the haka has amassed over 25 million likes, with her voice becoming a powerful tool for viral videos of solidarity.
This moment coincides with a global movement where Indigenous peoples are rising to address historic and ongoing injustices. We can see this happening in Kanaky / New Caledonia, Hawai’i, Palestinian and many other places throughout the world.
Moving into 2025, there will be a renewed national effort in our community to establish mana motuhake through a thriving Māori economy and building on established connections with other indigenous peoples.
The second reading of the Treaty Principles Bill will happen in 2025 also, and we will continue to protest and ensure that Tangata Whenua alongside Tangata Tiriti are striving for a better future.
What’s In Your Kete? Leilani Faaiuaso🎙️
🌺 Meet Leilani Faaiuaso – Proud 🇼🇸Samoan and passionate advocate
From her roots in Manurewa to her home in Palmy, Leilani’s journey is all about embracing culture, overcoming doubts, and inspiring her people.
Whether she’s smashing it on the TEDx stage, repping Aotearoa worldwide, or uplifting her community, Leilani is changing the game. ✨
Her story reminds us: our culture is our superpower. It’s not about feeling “not enough”—it’s about owning your identity with pride. 💪🏽
🎥 Watch her journey and get inspired to own your identity!
October Recap: Celebrating Arts, Culture, and Community
October has been a month of vibrant celebrations, inspiring art, and powerful storytelling!
From arts awards, music video drops to groundbreaking series premieres, we’ve been soaking up everything our local creative community has to offer.
Here’s our October recap, highlighting some of our favourite moments. Tap through each section to check out the gems you may have missed during the month! 🎉
Copy Right /Credit: Rautini Conroy Thompson O’Brien | Māori TV (2024)
Ngā Kōtiro o Taranaki Premieres 🎬
We kicked off the month with the premiere of Ngā Kōtiro o Taranaki, a visually stunning 10-part animated series.
This powerful tale of resilience, survival, and sisterhood is set in 1880s Taranaki and was brought to life by the talented Rautini Conroy Thompson O’Brien.
“It’s been passed down through the wāhine in my whānau to me. It’s always felt like my responsibility to put it out there. My mum is a fantastic storyteller, and she has really supported and pushed me to share this story.
It kinda feels otherworldly,” says Rautini, who co-wrote the series with her mother, Paula Conroy.
Ngā mihi Rautini & Whaea Paula, we look forward to seeing more stories from you both in the near future.
Celebrating Tuvalu Language Week & Molia Alama Tulafono’s Book Launch 📖
As part of Tuvalu Language Week, choreographer and community leader Molia Alama Tulafono celebrated the launch of her book ‘Kupu O Fatele, Tuvaluan Songs, Chants & Words of Inspiration’.
Published by Moanaroa Publishing in partnership with Pacifica Arts Centre, this cultural gem preserves language and heritage for future generations.
” I'm hopeful this book will encourage the next generation of Tuvaluans to be inspired and find strength in the beauty of our culture and language. Taku Fatele - Tau Fatele” ~ Molia Alama-Tulafono
Sipi kana Molia 🎉✨👏🏾 We look forward to adding this beautiful book to our collection of resources. Find your copy at Moana Fresh 🌺
STAR GOSSAGE | ‘Whanaungatanga ( Oct 9 - Nov 2)
Eight new exquisite paintings by Star Gossage (Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Ruanui) have been on exhibit at Tim Melville Gallery.
We must admit that we’ve stared longingly at the gallery’s digital catalogue for ‘Whanaungatanga’ and because the feels we get from the works have been so enchanting we’ve gone on to share the magic in our group chats with friends that adore Star Gossage’s work just as much as we do. 😍
Copyright / Credits: Tim Melville / Facebook (2024)
Queendom by Kenzie from Wellie – Music Video Drop 🎶
“QUEENDOM is a reminder to peel away western beauty standards piece by piece, a calling to activate internal Indigenous wisdom and a surge of energy to jumpstart the heart.” – Kenzie From Welly
With powerful lyrics and visuals, this anthem has been bumping at full blast over here. If you haven’t watched it yet, turn the volume up and push play - it’s a must for any playlist!! 👑
Stevei Houkāmau, Ira (19 Oct - 16 Nov) Masterworks Gallery
Stevei Houkāmau (Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau a Apanui, Rangitāne) has a new solo exhibition ‘Ira’ at Masterworks Gallery.
Ira continues Stevei's exploration of whakapapa using uku/clay and looking at forms that reference kākano/seeds.
Follow Stevei on INSTAGRAM ~ @ukumad to see more of her taonga.
Maui (2024) by Stevei Houkāmau, with this beautiful red stained paua, depicts the moment Maui begins to emerge from Rarohenga/ the underworld.
View more beautiful works via the e-catalogue.
*Copy Rights / Image credit: Masterworks Gallery
Niue Language Week & “Mavehe” by Haanz Fa'avae-Jackson 🌊
During Faahi Tapu he Vagahau Niue – Niue Language Week, multi-talented actor and singer, Haanz Fa'avae-Jackson released his heartfelt single ’Mavehe’.
The song and music video powerfully express Niuean culture, resilience, and the beauty of Vagahau Niue.
Faamele Etuale’s Lunchtime Lei Workshops 🌸
Over at the Govett Brewster Gallery, multi disciplinary artist Faamele Etuale hosted lunchtime lei-making workshops, offering the public a hands-on way to connect with tradition and creativity.
These sessions weren’t just about crafting leis; they were a beautiful way to reflect and connect through art.
Shout out to Fa’amele for sharing her skills and knowledge with our community in the regions and for featuring in our upcoming podcast!
Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureate Awards 🌟
In mid-October, Aotearoa’s arts community gathered to honour eight remarkable artists as the 2024 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureates.
We were thrilled to see Lonnie Hutchinson, Horomona Horo, Victor Rodger ONZM, Miriama McDowell and Carin Wilson Kahui Whetu Ngā Aho acknowledged for their respective mediums. A massive congratulations to all! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
The 2024 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureates at the Laureate Awards Party: Lonnie Hutchinson, Miriama McDowell, Carin Wilson Kahui Whetu Ngā Aho, Victor Rodger ONZM, Claire Cowan, Saskia Leek, Horomona Horo, and Alison Wong.
Image Credit: Arts Foundation
Creative New Zealand’s Arts Pasifika Awards 🏆
The Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards were another celebration of incredible talent, with recipients honored at a ceremony held at the Beehive in Wellington.
This event was a reminder of the immense impact that our artists continue to have on New Zealand’s cultural landscape.
We enjoyed the FB livestream of the event and cheered wildly when ✨Edith Amituana’i, ✨Sione Tuívailala Monū and ✨Leafa Wilson were each called up to the stage to be formally recognised this year.
Mālō le tauivi to poet and children’s author 🌺Tusiata Avia, Recipient of the 2024 Senior Pacific Artist Award from Creative New Zealand.
Read more about each artist and their award on the CNZ site.
Arts Pasifika Award 2024 Recipients (L-R clockwise): Tusiata Avia, Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono, Jadrah Tupai (Signature Choir), Edith Amituana’i, Max Stowers, Falefatu Carreras Enari, Sione Tuívailala Monū and Leafa Wilson.
Copyright / Image Credit: Creative NZ (2024)
October brought so much talent, and community celebration we wish we could’ve listed and been at them all.
👩🏽💻 Let us know what your favorite moment of the month was and feel free to share your image with us on IG.
Don’t forget if you have a story to share, don’t hesitate to reach out.
We’d love to hear your thoughts! 
What’s In Your Kete? Koikūokalani Lum 🎙️
Meet Koʻikūokalani Lum 🌊
🌺Aloha kākou! In this special podcast episode, we revisit our kōrero with Koʻikūokalani Lum, who shares his powerful story of traveling to Ngāruawāhia, Aotearoa as a young student.
🎙️Join us as he reflects on the life-changing cultural exchanges at Tūrangawaewae Marae, and how those experiences shaped his deep appreciation for storytelling and the unbreakable bonds connecting us across Moana Nui a Kiwa.
This inspiring podcast is a reminder of the rich heritage we all carry and the importance of preserving it for future generations.
Can you please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about who you are?
Anoʻai kākou, Koʻikūokalani, no Maui mai ou. My name is Koʻikūokalani and and I'm from the island of Maui.
Kainoa ko makuakāne o Thomas Lum Senior. Kainoa ko makuahine o Nadine Awana. O wau ka hiapo, I'm the eldest in the family.
My dad's name is Thomas Lum Senior. And my mom is Nadine Awana.
And I'm the eldest in the family.
I understand you visited Aotearoa in the past, can you also share some of your experiences from that trip?
So in 2000, we were able to go and travel to Aotearoa. And at that time we had a small contingency, that came from Maui. Young bunch of boys, from Maui.
Our intention was to have some cultural exchanges with folks in Aotearoa.
And at that time I was a junior in high school, one year remaining from graduating from high school. So we were invited to Ngāruawāhia and stayed at the queen's Marae (Tūrangawaewae).
Some of the fortunate things, we were able to meet the queen
(Te Atairangikaahu) at the time when she was living, and I think that was the period of time that really changed and set the foundation of all things that, at a very young age, learning things and associated around mea Hawai’i things around Hawaiian culture, etc.
And at that time just shortly after graduating high school, I said I wanted to learn the language here in Hawai’i.
And, just see how it could be instrumental within our family and revitalising some of those traditions, but yep, I would say attending Aotearoa at a very young age, solidified that.
How does it feel to be attending FestPAC 2024?
I mean, you know, definitely it was something that raised the awareness of, like, you have to be there because, all of our brothers and sisters from Moana Nui a Kiwa, a large expanse of our great ocean.
Just making the effort to be here and support all of the contingencies all over Hawai’i and all around the Pacific.
Just amazing.
I forgot what day it is about fourth or fifth day, but just right from the beginning of the opening of the ceremonies, kind of just seeing everybody there, like a really large reunion, you know, to see, but, yeah, awesome stuff.
Hard to grasp everything that, you know, that's happening at that time.
Words cannot really express, you know, how the Fest has been going on so far.
I mean, definitely this is my first time being around, all of our people.
If there is one thing you wanted someone to know about Hawai’i, your family or your culture what would it be? What would you like to take away from this Festival?
I think the importance of our mo'olelo, our stories are just vitally important. You know, just when we, when we see the demonstrations of all of the Pacific brothers and sisters, showcase their dance at the opening of the ceremony.
And then you can see so much similarities from nation to nation. And just the way how they move, the way how they sound, and you can kind of see and weave that thread through all the the nations, across.
So I think the most important for me, is capturing the stories that are all around and just really sharing that excitement from your understanding of what you know and how to share to all of those that are that have visited.
And just kind of see like how our stories are really intertwined. What question marks were present and what questions have been answered throughout the time.
And really it's like just being in the presence of many of these elders that came from afar.
And so it's been truly an amazing opportunity and blessing.
What’s In Your Kete? Candice Davis 🎙️
Check out our NEW podcast: What's In Your Kete?
Exciting news! We have published our NEW podcast, ‘What’s In Your Kete?’
Join us for our first episode as we kōrero with Candice Davis, of Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Porou ki Harataunga, and Cook Islands descent.
This television presenter, event boss, and world traveller shares a few tales about growing up in Tokomaru Bay, playing the drums on a Native American reservation as a child, becoming social media famous during the days of Bebo and so much more!
She’s got stories for days, and we’re spilling the tea on how she’s making moves in the world while repping her Māori culture in Naarm, Melbourne, Australia.
Remembering Te Māori
Forty years ago, the groundbreaking Te Māori exhibition put Māori culture and taonga on the world stage in a way that had never been done before.
Opening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1984, the exhibition featured 174 taonga from museums and iwi across Aotearoa, and drew over 70,000 visitors in its first week alone. As it toured four U.S. cities, it wasn’t just the artifacts that traveled — Māori representatives accompanied the taonga at every stop, ensuring their stories were told with cultural integrity and respect.
Credit Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade | Opening of Te Māori Exhibition, New York, 10th October 1984.
Te Māori was more than just an art exhibit; it was a turning point for museums globally in how they approached indigenous cultural artifacts. It shifted the focus from viewing these objects as relics of the past to recognising them as living embodiments of cultural identity. It showed the world the beauty of Māori history and craftsmanship, while also marking a critical reclamation of Māori voices and narratives in the process.
Te Māori exhibition banner at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 1984.
Credit: TVNZ
For the first time, Māori were leading the conversations around their own heritage on a global platform. This was not just a showcase of art; it was a bold statement of Māori identity and self-determination. The mana and richness of our culture were on full display for the world to see, on our terms.
After its successful run at The Met in New York, followed by exhibitions at the Saint Louis Art Museum, the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco, and the Field Museum in Chicago between 1984 and 1986, Te Māori returned to Aotearoa in 1987.
Rebranded as Te Māori: Te Hokinga Mai, it was proudly presented in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.
This photograph shows exhibition staff at the Auckland City Art Gallery just before its opening there. Credit: Te Ara
This week, the Te Māori Manaaki Taonga Trustees hosted a remarkable two-day wānanga at the beautiful Waiwhetū Marae, gathering to commemorate the significant milestone of 40 years since the opening of Te Māori. This event served as an opportunity not only to explore the profound legacy of the exhibition but also to reflect on cherished memories and experiences from that transformative period.
Carousel of images captured from the Āti Awa Toa Livestream
Additionally, it inspired kōrero around the promising future of Māori art and cultural expression.
This gathering stands as a powerful reminder that the stories and taonga shared four decades ago continue to resonate deeply, shaping the creative path for future generations of artists and guardians of our cherished culture.
Aotearoa to Aespa: A K-pop Story
🎤 Here’s something special for all the K-pop stans and curious newbies out there! 🌟
Just back from a mind-blowing Aespa concert in Sydney, Nic Spring, spills the tea on what it’s like to vibe in the mosh pit, the wild fashion, and why K-pop is more than just music—it’s a full-on experience. Plus, find out how this young wahine Māori sees parallels between K-pop and Māori culture.
Welcome back, how was the ‘Aespa’ concert in Sydney? What was the vibe like?
This was Aespa’s second world tour and fortunately enough for me, they came as close as Australia.
The vibe was Next Level (song reference), they normally are. I bought the VIP experience which meant we were in the mosh pit essentially and got to experience the soundcheck session beforehand where they sang three songs just in their street clothes.
So many people dress up to meet the concept, whether that’s for the tour or just in general. I think it’s similar in a way to going to a rugby game, you don’t know the person sitting next to you, but by the end of it, you’ve shared a drink or too, rallied together and just vibe.
Imagine that, but instead we’re chanting and singing along in a language a lot of us don’t know too well, screaming and even dancing along to the group’s choreography.
How did you first get into K-pop? Was there a specific group or song that hooked you?
This question actually comes up a lot, I think anyone who enjoys K-pop has had to answer this several times. I fell into it in a way I think a lot of people may have. I was a big fan of watching the American Music award shows, all of them. MTV VMAs, AMAs etc.
In 2017, I was watching the AMAs and BTS were performing. I thought I was super into the performance and didn’t take the time to actually hear it properly, it was so good, their stage presence, their styling, their charisma, vocals, rap, dance. It was fun to look things up about them when I did have time and just learn more about their music and their messages. The messages in BTS music were definitely a massive contributor to their appeal. Love Yourself is pretty prominent in a lot of their music, including a whole trilogy album series. They partnered with Unicef to spread the same message and continue to do so.
Also having something as fast as K-pop to explore during COVID was definitely a blessing. K-pop idols, just like Western artists, were doing what they could to continue to make their music and share content with their fans, so there was a lot to just distract you from all the bad and the sad going around the world.
Was this your first time to attend a K-pop concert live in Australia?
Definitely not the first K-pop concert I’ve attended, not even the first one this year, or even the first in Australia.
February last year was my first international K-pop concert, technically as well as my first full scale K-pop production. The group’s name is Stray Kids and they have a couple of Aussie-Korean members, so it’s normally a safe bet that they’ll tour Australia.
I flew over to Melbourne and stayed with a friend of mine who’d moved over there. We actually met through our shared love of BTS and K-pop in general and went together despite not being sat next to each other, we were still there together.
After that was Twice, the two groups share the same company. They were fantastic and the vibe for both concerts was so good. Everyone chats in the line, you watch videos, listen to music, ask who their bias (favourite member) or the bias wrecker (the member who can steal your attention from your favourite) and you can’t forget the fan freebies too. Some really dedicated fans make keychains, phone charms, print off photo cards or they’ll decorate toploaders (protective thicker plastic sleeves for your photocards) and just give out little goodie baggies to other fans, because they can.
I’ll have another concert in October for Stray Kids again, only it’ll be the stadium tour this time at Marvel Stadium, which is exciting. Can’t wait to see what they’ll do this time around, especially in a bigger venue so the performance will likely be even bigger in scale!
K-pop is a global sensation. What is it about K-pop that makes it so special?
I think like most music, people will typically resonate more with music that fits their preference,
K-pop does that. It’s a really broad genre if you look a bit deeper. BTS throwbacks for example are rooted in Hip Hop and can throw back to that vibe a lot. It’s not your bubblegum pop, ultra sweet, synthetic sounds. If you want to listen to ballads you’ve got some amazing ballads, or even original sound tracks that you can just listen to and mellow or let yourself get caught up in your feels. BToB, Ailee, Taeyeon, Kim Sejong, AKMU, Gummy, 10CM, Nell … there’s so many. K-HipHop is also a thing.
One of the things that I think attracts people is that it is all so big. In most circumstances, idols choose to become idols at a young age. Primary school or high school, and then they train and go through assessment and work probably harder than I ever have in my entire life for the chance to debut either in a group or as a soloist, and they do this not knowing if they’ll make the cut or get left behind. If you want to look behind the curtain, there’s a few documentaries out on streaming services now, like Blackpink the Movie or BTS: Beyond the star where you get to see some of what went into it and what they went through to try to make it.
One of the biggest things for me, if you step away from the music and the beast that is K-pop, is the community.
We’re talking about every ethnicity, every nationality, every colour, every size and every kind of person from any and all walks of life, coming together in support of other people and the dream they had.
"It’s difficult to put into words how safe it feels to be a K-pop fan in a K-pop space, because you just want to look after each other." Nic Spring
You share food and snacks with people, you share socials, you catch up when you can, you share some unhinged memes with them despite you buy and sell merch to them or from them and agree to meet up in person. K-pop fans in some cases, especially when you’re an older fan or a professional and there’s that perception that liking K-pop is childish in the eyes of a lot of people, so you shouldn’t be doing it. But it's your community and you know they’re safe and they’ll listen to you and they’ll hear you and understand you.
As a young wahine Māori, do you see any similarities between K-pop and Māori culture in terms of music, dance, or fan community?
The sense of community for sure, that hospitality and the need to care and generally look out for each other you could definitely draw parallels. The dance and songs are different, but in the same way someone might start Ka Mate and everyone would join in and do the same haka K-pop can do that. The community thing though, that sense of belonging, it’s hard to explain, but to draw a parallel.
Similar to the way Māori will typically ask where you’re from when you meet someone, right? If you’re out in the street and you recognise a random stranger with K-pop merch, keychain, shirt, hoodie, hat, phone case, photocard, you’d typically ask them their bias, their ult (ultimate group or K-pop idol), their fandom and you’d reply with your own.
Interestingly enough Stray Kids does actually have a song called Miroh with choreography that is inspired by the haka, so in a way, you could say that’s a similarity for sure. I do remember watching the music video for the first time and being like “wait, what!?”
What was your favourite moment from the concert? Was there a performance or song that really stood out for you?
My favourite performances were definitely Drama which they opened with, it’s a great song and it’s hard not to sing along and the second was definitely Armageddon which they closed with. Those songs I’ve always loved since I heard them the first time. We Go was another one I was so happy to see because it combined two of my favourite things, K-pop and Pokemon. I will always love just seeing how much fun they have on stage, when they’re not doing full out choreography and they’re just playing on the stage, giving a bit of fanservice and you can see them trying to read signs and interact with fans as much as they can.
Drama I think is pretty iconic, so the cheers that erupted when it started was kind of epic.
One thing that also blew me away was the sheer amount of confetti and streamers they had! It just added to the experience so much! Even if it did give me a jump scare every time they went off.
Did you spot any cool outfits or trends at the concert
that you'd love to try?
Y2K is the big thing at the moment I think in the K-pop scene in general, so I definitely saw a lot of that! I love seeing people trying their hand at hairstyles, I definitely give them a go when I can. They’re not always the easiest, but it’s so fun to try.
I’m not a makeup girlie really, but some of the makeup looks are always so cool. K-pop makeup is a lot more understated than your Western looks, but you see people with amazing looking skin that’s just glowing and big bright eyes!
I definitely try to push my comfort zone when it comes to concert outfits! I’m enjoying the looser pant styles for sure and the chunky boots. Those have been fun to experiment with.
What’s your go-to K-pop song or artist when you need a mood boost?
Currently the song I really like listening to is ABCD by Nayeon, it makes me feel a bit nostalgic to music from maybe the 2000s.
I stan U by IU, I listen to a lot when I want to feel supported. It just makes me smile and feel really good, especially the chorus.
Any advice for fellow K-pop fans in Aotearoa who dream of catching a live show one day?
Buy whatever ticket you can afford would be my advice. Most of the ticketing agents here like Ticketmaster and Ticketek have Afterpay, or maybe that’s not a good thing from a financial point of view. If we want more K-pop concerts here we really need to prove that it’s not going to be a financial black hole for them to hold a show here. We’re here for the sense of community and the music, but there’s still a lot of business decisions that happen in the background. Even if they’re not your favourite group, do what you can to attend the show, sometimes tickets can be cheaper leading up to the event to fill seats, if you have to wait until then to afford a ticket, then it is what it is.
If you could see a K-pop artist collaborate with a Māori musician, who would you pair up and why?
I would love to see Stan Walker with BTS, maybe V from BTS. Those would be some amazing blended vocals, or perhaps Jungkook from BTS. I’m from Ngāpuhi and am really proud to be Māori, it's something I identify with for sure, I always wonder how we could spread our culture further.
So when I see Māori doing amazing things I always think about that. Stan is definitely the one I’d love to see with any of the vocalists from BTS actually, or any member. They’re cultural ambassadors for Korea, so maybe it’s a good fit when you think about it like that.
Stan is a big ambassador for Māori culture, so it could be a pretty good pairing.
Māori cinema dominates in 2024
Written by Taylor Tutawa Mclaren
2024 has seen several successful Māori films released locally and abroad.
Building on the legacy of great films of the past like Once Were Warriors, Whale Rider and The Dead Lands, these new films explore familiar themes while placing new spins on old stories.
Let’s take a deep dive into Māori cinema in 2024 and why its better then ever before.
The Convert by Lee Tamahori is a period piece film set in colonial Aotearoa.
Image credit: New Zealand Film Commission
The first Māori film I watched this year was The Convert at St Lukes Cinema. Directed by Lee Tamahori of Once Were Warriors fame, this film had a stacked cast included Guy Pierce, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne and Lawrence Makoare.
Both these elements together made this film feel like a big blockbuster hit, which helped to launch this film and consequently Te Aō Maōri into the public consciousness.
The subverted expectations of a Pakeha lay minister (the main character played by Guy Pierce) eventually being converted into the life of Māori was one that while obvious in hindsight, is unexpected when watching the film.
Tioreore’s character is of a mournful widow and she gives a hauntingly beautiful performance which is amplified in the face of a war between the two iwi in the film.
I walked out of the cinema with a renewed interest in Māori films and have gone on to watch several older Māori films for the first time because of how good The Convert was.
And then to top it off was the Ka Whawhai Tonu film that came out later in the year.
Image credit: Event Finda
This film doesn’t shy away from the very real atrocities committed in this battle.
My emotions were mixed between sorrowful grief to Māori who were killed on screen by the dozen, and burning rage to in-movie Pākehā who’s actions in the film were almost cliche in their hatred of the Māori resistance towards the British.
The director Mike Jonathan balances historical accuracy with a fictional story of a young boy of Maōri and Pakeha heritage trying to find meaning in his cultural differences during the NZ Land Wars.
I left the cinema with a greater appreciation for the resilience of my people and appreciated the opportunity to learn about an aspect of New Zealand’s history that is shamefully neglected too often.
When analysing both these films, it becomes clear how they exhibit different aspects of colonial Aotearoa and how this is done in its genre niches.
Whether you prefer a action drama film like The Convert, or a historical drama like Ka Whawhai Tonu, the diversity of Māori cinema in 2024 is excellent to see.
Pacific Music Awards Finalist: Ema I’u Talks New Album, Creative Vision & Community
PMA Finalist: Ema I'u - Flower of Life
The 2024 Pacific Music Awards are celebrating 20 years this Thursday, August 29, at the Due Drop Centre in Auckland. We spoke with finalist EMA I'U about her nomination and reconnected after meeting at the first SXSW Sydney Festival, where her music video "Flower of Life" premiered globally.
Thinking about the past year, what does being nominated for the ‘NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video‘at the 2024 Pacific Music Awards mean to you?
I'm thrilled and grateful to be here, especially for the 20th anniversary. I can't wait to share more.
What have you been working on lately?
I'm working on my debut album with lots of songs, my next music video, and a few other projects.
Next year will be big, so this is great for building my confidence.
If money was no object, what would be your dream project?
I'm almost there (with the album) which has narrative videos or documentaries that join into the kaupapa of the things I’m writing about.
With a background in theatre and screen, I want to really explore those things and community.
I’m passionate about climate action and especially as I’m from the Pacific.
I want to raise awareness for issues in the region.
As a community, how can we ensure that Pacific music artists continue to thrive for the next twenty years?
It's making it accessible to our rangatahi, that music is a viable career and that it can support us and sustain us in different ways.
There's not just one way of doing it and you don’t have to be winning awards to do it.
There's a community aspect to it. There’s a spiritual aspect also and it heals us.
Image Credit: Pacific Music Awards So as long as there are events that create confidence, because our people are so talented in this area. We were born to be orators and performers and we need to create more opportunities.
That's why I love things like the NZ on Air New Music Pasifika programme and all these kinds of opportunities, which if you’ve come from a background that you just didn’t think this was an option, well maybe it is!
There's so much talent!
Lastly, if there is one thing that you want people to know about you, what would it be?
My name is EMA I’U.
I am proud to be Samoan and Tangata Moana, and thankful to be here.
