Wairoa hip hop finalists

Zach Stark and Ratima Hauraki: Wairoa duo Rugged and Wylde.

WAIROA hip hop band Rugged and Wylde is a finalist in the 2017 Waiata Maori Music Awards.

The band, Zach Stark and Ratima Hauraki, was established last year and has a goal to “push the boundaries of hip hop in Aotearoa, put the whole East Coast on the musical map, and have a helluva good time doing it”.

Rugged and Wylde is a finalist in the best Maori urban rap/hip hop/RnB album section.

Now in its 10th year, the Waiata Maori Music Awards celebrate excellence in Maori music and also aim to acknowledge and honour the keepers, teachers, promoters, creators and performers of this cultural taonga.

The awards event was established by the late composer and teacher Tama Huata ONZM (Ngati Kahungungu), a renowned leader in and champion of the performing arts. Tama’s daughter Ellison now helms the awards.

She says, “The calibre of the finalists in our 10th anniversary year is a great testament to the quality and diversity of Maori composers, musicians and performers that we have in Aotearoa.

“The Waiata Maori Music Awards provide a unique opportunity to celebrate both our traditional and contemporary Maori musical artists.”

Acclaimed singer/songwriters Rob Ruha, Maisey Rika, Tama Waipara and Taisha Tari are the official ambassadors of the Waiata Maori Music Awards and they will be joining the finalists as the winners are revealed at this year’s ceremony.