M9 is a ground-breaking hybrid of 'Ted Talks', a theatre show and a ‘micro’ conference, and designed to be accessible to all Aotearoa, M9 presents nine unique Māori voices in celebration of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori through Whakaaturanga, Whakaari, Whakawhiti Kōrero - Presentation Performance , Conversation.
To celebrate Te Wiki o te reo Māori M9 presented Whiua ki te ao! - Cast the Māori language to the world!
Rob Ruha (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui/Ngāti Porou) is a composer and solo artist, part of a new generation of Māori songwriters. Born of a powerful lineage of Māori artists, Rob was nurtured in a community of rhythmic dance, pulsing haka, spontaneous song, dynamic Māori leadership and a legacy of innovation to be the artist he is today. Rob has collected a string of New Zealand Music awards and his unique style of music that he has coined ‘Haka-soul’ has been performed and embraced all around the world. In addition, Rob has won numerous kapa haka awards for his leadership, tutor roles and compositions.
These achievements have lead him to assume official roles as an ambassador for APRA AMCOS NZ, the Waiata Māori Music Awards and as a mentor to many young Māori artists. It is through these roles that Rob champions the contributions of the kapa haka world to the New Zealand music scene and its might as a ready-made and powerful audience for Māori Music artists. His success as a full time Solo Artist to date is testimony to that.
An acclaimed kapa haka exponent, Rob has also judged the quality and standard of this art form for the past 15 years at national and international competitions. He was a mentor and judge for the reality television series “The Kapa” where he trained the winning team and was an expert panelist for the live broadcast of Te Matatini in 2017.
Rob was also the Musical Director and translator for the re-versioning of the Disney smash-hit movie ‘MOANA’ into Te Reo Māori.
Rob is also a talented weaver and painter and began learning these arts with his grandmothers from the age of seven. Some of his work can be seen adorning many of the countries top kapa haka performers and his paintings have been sort after collector’s items.