A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
To celebrate Te Marama Waiata Puoro Maori — Maori Music Month — Te Wananga o Aotearoa has put together an 11-track compilation of songs.
Called Songs of Rangahau, the album features works written, arranged and performed by kaimahi (staff) from various wananga. One of the artists is Sophronia Smith who
says compositions are key to the preservation of te reo Maori, knowledge transmission and political commentary.
“In alignment with this worldview, composition is about our identity as Maori people.”
The waiata Oku Tapairu, written by John Tiakitai-Turi and arranged by Smith, highlights prominent Kahungunu leaders Hine-i-paketia, Airini Te Nahu and Maku-i-te-rangi. The waiata gives importance to the centrality of women and is part of the decolonising agenda, says Smith.
