A 1980s Māori protest song used to revitalise the 2020 Māori Party movement will be re-released -35 years after its initial release.
Maranga Ake Ai was released in 1985 by pioneer Māori reggae band Aotearoa. That track features now Supreme Court Judge Justice Sir Joe Williams on vocals, who also co-wrote the song.
Māori Party Tamaki Makaurau candidate John Tamihere - who was at Auckland University during the Māori renascence of the 1980s - knew the lyrics would strike a chord with Māori today and approached Sir Joe’s representatives for permission to use the track to galvanise the new Māori Party movement. “Māori have always gravitated to reggae music and Sir Joe’s lyrics are as relevant today as they were when he penned this in the 1980s. Sir Joe was among a new wave young educated Māori behind our cultural revival,”
Tamihere said .“Thankfully Sir Joe’s people were gracious enough to allow the Māori Party to re-record the track and use it as part of our 2020 election campaign.”
The job of refreshing the much-loved waiata for the Māori Party was given to Whanganui musician Baz Muir who heads the reggae band, NLC.
"Maranga Ake Ai" by NLC - out now
👉 Available links to purchase -Maranga Ake Ai: smarturl.it/NLCmaa
Follow NLC
Facebook - / nlc.reggaemu. .
Twitter - / nlcbaz
Video Direction by Katene Durie-Doherty
Editor/Colour grading - Sani Sagala
Recorded by Baz Muir
Mixing - Mastering - Kogs Studio