Herbs accept their induction into the New Zealand Music Hall Of Fame, in an acceptance speech full of emotion, and of course, music.
Dilworth Karaka, a prolific musician and member of Aotearoa’s premier reggae group Herbs, has died.
The singer’s whānau expressed their “deep sorrow” in a heartfelt social media post confirming his death.
Toni Fonoti, Spencer Fusimalohi and Fred Faleauto formed Herbs, which Karaka joined in 1979. He would remain the leadsinger for the next four decades.
New Zealand's music community is mourning the death of John Dilworth Karaka, founding member of one of New Zealand's premier reggae bands, Herbs. Photo / Phoenix Karaka
The group became known for their Polynesian reggae sound, and pro-peace and anti-nuclear stance, releasing 1980s protest anthems French Letter, No Nukes, and Nuclear Waste.
The band are perhaps best known for appearing on the Dave Dobbyn track Slice of Heaven, as well as their hits Listen, Long Ago and See What Love Can Do, a collaboration with fellow Pacific artist Annie Crummer.
Born in 1950 and raised in Auckland, Karaka was widely regarded as the group’s leader, with Fonoti describing him as the “face of Herbs” in their 2019 documentary Herbs: Songs of Freedom.
Herbs in Mascot Studios, early 1980s (from left): Dilworth Karaka, Spencer Fusimalohi, Fred Faleauto, Phil Toms and Toni Fonoti.
“Dilworth grew the band more while always maintaining the core message of voicing social injustice,” he said.
“A freedom fighter for Bastion Point, and in tune with the issues of the Pacific.
“We stood strong together as brothers, as Māori and Pacific, in a time when Māori and Pacific were not united.”
Herbs (from left): Jack Allen, Dilworth Karaka, Mori Watene, Spenz Fusimalohi and Fred Faleauto.
Herbs was inducted into the New Zealand Hall of Fame at the 2012 Apra Silver Scroll Awards.
The group also received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2015 Pacific Music Awards.
A gifted guitarist and vocalist, Karaka remained with the group through several personnel changes over the decades, becoming a devoted and influential mentor to other Māori and Pasifika musicians.
“We were the voice for a lot of people that just weren’t getting heard,” Karaka said while reflecting on Herbs’ political activism.
Dilworth Karaka (left) and Leighton Greeny of Herbs in 2012. Photo / Natalie Slade
Audioculture, a digital library documenting Aotearoa’s music history, wrote: “[Karaka] helmed the Herbs waka while it created the Pacific reggae that condemned the Crown’s treatment of Māori land rights protesters and so-called Pacific Island overstayers, organised religion, French nuclear testing and Japanese drift-net fishing in the Pacific, even South Africa’s apartheid system.”
The documentary Herbs: Songs of Freedom was released in 2019.
Karaka’s whānau said they would gather at Ōrākei Marae tomorrow morning, where they will be met by Ngāti Whātua.
After spending one night there, his body will be taken to Whaatapaka Marae in Karaka, where he will lie for two night before his burial.
The whānau said further details about his final services would be shared as soon as possible.
The Herbs, from left Dilworth Karaka, Charlie Tumahai, Tom Nepia, Fred Faleauto, Willie Hone, Tama Lundon and Morri Watene in 1986. Photo / New Zealand Herald Archives.
