Stan Walker (top right) topped the new chart; Auckland rapper Callum McDougall, who performs as Rei; and Māori metal band Alien Weaponry (below). Photo / RNZ
Stan Walker (top right) topped the new chart; Auckland rapper Callum McDougall, who performs as Rei; and Māori metal band Alien Weaponry (below). Photo / RNZ
"In the past, there have always been a few artists that are putting out music in te reo, but currently there is enough to really sustain this chart and it's being really well supported," he said.
The inaugural number one song is Tua, by Stan Walker.
"I can only explain the Māori experience, history and culture through te reo - to explain it in English is to diminish it," Walker said in a statement.
"Often when I talk in English, I need to switch to a te reo word as there is no English word to capture exactly what I want to say.
"If te reo is lost, to be Māori is lost. My language must be a living, breathing organ - not a dusty, unread book in a library."
Stan Walker says to try to explain the Māori experience, history and culture in English is to diminish it. Photo / RNZ
Auckland rapper Callum McDougall, who performs as Rei ("the rapper extraordinaire" as he described himself in this interview), said the chart was a welcome acknowledgment.
"Too often, te reo artists, Māori artists, don't get much of a look-in, so things like this to uplift our te reo Māori artists definitely helps," he said.
Rei said there had been a phenomenal increase in the amount of music performed in te reo Māori in recent years.
And it's not hard to miss - the roaring success of the Waiata Anthems albums, the heady popularity of Māori metallers Alien Weaponry, prominent artists like Stan Walker championing te reo Māori, and Rei, his four albums heavily infused with Māori.
Rei said the addition of an official chart would help give a platform for more new artists.
"There is a bit of a wave of it at the moment, it's at a tipping point where there's a lot of waiata getting sung in te reo and a lot getting released and it's starting to get more play on mainstream media," he said.
"It's helping it really break through and stop knocking at the door, but come right through the door and be like, 'We're here! Kia ora!'"
The challenge now, Rei said, was for the Māori chart to be incorporated into mainstream radio play.
"The demand is there already, so many people in the rangatahi and the younger generation coming through in Aotearoa do like hearing te reo music ... people are getting way more open to it," he said.
"Now it's a case of the industry catching up, making sure that everything's fair for all of us and that we all get a look in."
Rei, who has spoken about his initial shyness about performing in te reo Māori, said he hoped this avenue would break that barrier.
