Today’s Video of the Day features local hero, mana wahine and 2024 NZ Music Hall of Fame inductee: Dame Hinewehi Mohi (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tūhoe). This video is from her legendary Oceania debut album, produced by Jaz Coleman. We share their iconic waiata ‘Kotahitanga’: a song that would change and diversify soundscapes in Aotearoa and beyond, creating a kainga in our cultural zeitgeist.

The song’s triumphant message speaks to the power of unity. The song is about the need for unity and draws on the Kotahitangi movement of the 1890s, and Te Kotahitanga of the 1960s. In-line with this week’s theme of “amplifying local and independent music community champions”, we wanted to highlight the unifying force of Dame Hinewehi Mohi’s music and her dedication to our communities.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust, which provides music therapy for people with disabilities. Dame Hinewehi Mohi founded the centre with her husband George Bradfield and named the centre after their daughter Hineraukatauri, who was born with cerebral palsy.

2024 also 25 years since she sang ‘God Defend New Zealand’ in te reo Māori at a Rugby World Cup match at Twickenham in 1999, the same year Oceania was released. Her performance was a testament to Dame Hinewehi Mohi’s activism, which changed the way our national anthem has been perceived, sung and represented at home and overseas.

Her contributions to Aotearoa were rightfully acknowledged by her appointment to Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to Māori, music and television. Dame Hinewehi Mohi continues to champion reo Māori, music and language, with her role as Manukura Puoro Māori at APRA AMCOS NZ and spearheading the beloved Waiata Anthems movement.

Tonight, Dame Hinewehi Mohi will be inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame at the 2024 Aotearoa Music Awards. You can tune into the ceremony on RNZ’s livestream and join us in celebrating Dame Hinewehi Mohi and her manawa nui.

Sing and jump-jam along to ‘Kotahitanga’ and tune in āpōpō (and every day of New Zealand Music Month) for a new Video of the Day!

Photo credit: Jane Ussher.

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