From this year onwards, August will turn into Te Marama Pūoro Waiata Māori – Māori Music Month.

The new celebration and awareness month was initiated by Ellison Huata,  the executive director of the Waiata Māori Music Awards.

Huata hopes Māori Music Month will generate activity for artists in August each year, and bridge the gap between NZ Music Month in May, Matariki & Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori in June/July, and the Waiata Māori Awards in September.

During Māori Music Month young performers will be mentored by established artists through events in Wellington, Auckland, Waikato the Gold Coast, Australia, which will last one week at each location.

Ambassadors include Maisey Rika, Rob Ruha, Tama Waipara and Taisha Tari, who will conduct workshops in schools, focusing on taonga pūoro, song writing, song composition and vocal training.

Māori Music Month will launch at the National Secondary Schools’ Kapa Haka competition in Hawke’s Bay on July 28.

Waiata Māori Music Expo 2017

September 9, 9am to 2pm,  Hawke’s Bay Opera House Plaza, Hastings

Waiata Māori Music Awards 2017

September 9, 6pm, Hastings Sports Arena, Hastings