SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music | Toi te Arapūoru’s own podcast series Sounds Of The Moana has won Gold (the highest category award) at the New York Festivals Radio Awards (NYFRA).

Entries for this year’s awards were received from over 30 countries and some of the global broadcasters shortlisted include BBC, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, CBS News Radio, NBC News, RTÉ Ireland, Deutsche Welle (DW), Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and Mediacorp.

Hon Carmel Sepuloni, minister for arts, culture, and heritage, says, “Malo lava and a big congratulations to SOUNZ and the Sounds Of The Moana podcast team for receiving the Gold award at the 2022 New York Festivals Radio Awards. I’m proud that the stories of Moana-Nui-ā-Kiwa and its vibrant history of indigenous sounds have been recognised internationally for its unique beauty. This is an exceptional feat and a big win for our Pacific whānau.”

Gold has not been awarded in the music podcast category in at least the previous two years, making this a rare win.

Diana Marsh, SOUNZ chief executive and executive producer of the podcast, says, “SOUNZ is absolutely delighted to receive this award, especially as this was our first major podcast series. We worked in partnership with the Moana Pacific peoples’ music elders, practitioners and knowledge holders to shed light on the indigenous musics of Moana-Nui-ā-Kiwa in a series that was designed to be engaging and accessible. It took a village to produce and I would like to thank each and every person involved.”.

The two-episode podcast series explores the indigenous sound of Moana-Nui-ā-Kiwa (Oceania) and asks how this musical identity can be kept alive today.

Tau’ili’ili Alpha Maiava, podcast host and co-producer, says, “It’s gratifying to witness our stories finding a home in the wider world’s value vault. After all, our representation to the world has been ‘his-tory’ — this acknowledgment, however, validates and affirms the uniqueness and significance of ‘OUR-story’. Long may they captivate.”

SOUNZ is currently in the process of implementing its SOUNZ Moana Pacific Peoples Musics Strategy, the first music strategy in Aotearoa for Moana Pacific peoples.