Moana Maniapoto and her Tribe on the way to Whanganui with songs of the ocean

Trina and Moana Maniapoto of Moana and the Tribe will perform with Paddy Free and Cadzow Cossar at the Royal Wanganui Opera House. Photo / Radar Photography

Moana Maniapoto recently collected the Taite Music Prize Classic Record Award for Tahi - the 1993 album she recorded with Moana and the Moa Hunters.

Together with Teremoana Rapley and Mina Ripia, she fronted a band that made waves around the world.

In a recent interview, Maniapoto said the album was intended to "Make Māori feel good about being Māori" with songs like the title track Tahi and AEIOU encouraging the use of te reo Māori and their cover of the Sonny and the Checkmates' soul classic Black Pearl promoting strong self-esteem in young women.

"It was our own style of hip-hop and it was unusual at the time to see three young, brown women fronting a big band."

She went on to form Moana and the Tribe in 2002 and with a changing line-up, they have been performing ever since with hundreds of national and international tours under their belts.

Now they are heading to Whanganui with their Arts on Tour show titled My Name is Moana and will play at the Royal Wanganui Opera House on Friday, May 10.

The current line-up consists of Maniapoto on vocals and guitar, her sister Trina Maniapoto on vocals and ukelele, electronic wizard Paddy Free on keyboards and guitar virtuoso Cadzow Cossar.

The show is described as "an intimate 90-minute tribute to the ocean" as well as "a little garage party" to which the audience is invited to bring along voices, ukulele and guitars.

The audience can expect "a delightful showcase of sublime singing and captivating storytelling that will draw you in, make you think, feel, laugh, sing along and possibly even dance".

Moana and the Tribe: My Name is Moana. Friday, May 10 at 7.30pm. Tickets: Adult $25 senior/ student/ friends of the Opera House $20. Purchased from Royal Wanganui Opera House booking office Monday - Friday 10am-4pm, Ph 06 349 0511 or online at whanganuivenues.co.nz

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