Maori Language Week: Local musician launches te reo single

Local musician Rob Ruha and Whakatane's Maisey Rika filming music video Waiaroha in Rotorua this week. Photo / Glen Bates

A Rotorua musician is releasing his latest single to coincide with Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori - Maori Language Week.

Rob Ruha (Te Whanau-a-Apanui, Ngati Porou, Te Arawa) is launching his duet with fellow singer-songwriter Maisey Rika called Waiaroha. The single is from his upcoming te reo Maori album, Pumau set to be released next month.

The music video was shot in Rotorua by production company Velvet Stone Media and featured sand painter Marcus Winter.

"Waiaroha translated - wai means water and aroha means love so we're symbolising that in the music video of a leaf floating down a river to explain what relationships and love is like," Ruha said.

"Sometimes it's in a really nice spot other times it can be turbulent and hit into the bank. It's about the journey of relationships and the journey of love and trying to stay in those calm spots but also acknowledging the other spots as well."

Ruha said the song was also about love and relationships in a broad sense.

"Between lovers, the love relationship of a grandchild and grandparent, between mum and dad, sons and daughter."

The duet had been performed in Scotland at the Celtic Connections festival this year and in Auckland as Ruha, Rika and Seth Haapu opened for American Grammy Award winner, John Legend.

"We first sang it at Scotland in front of predominantly people from Scotland who know nothing at all about the Maori language and we had them crying. It was the same opening for John Legend - a good song is a good song regardless of language," Ruha said.

"Maori is my first language and is such a natural thing for me as natural as the sun rising in the morning and setting in the evening. I've written songs since I was 12 and only have written one in English."

Ruha said he appreciated the support from Velvet Stone Media and cafe Be Rude Not To who donated food during the video shoot.

"This is my very first video clip as a solo musician and it is a very special journey for me. -Waiaroha is available to download on iTunes, Spotify, Amplifier and Google Play.

Kupu hou (New words)
Wai (Why) - water
Aroha (Ah-raw-ha) - love
Waiata (Why-ah-tah) - to sing/ song
Ataata (Ah-taah-tah) - video