Kōkōuri - New Waiata Māori Project Unveils First Of Three EP 'Hoata'
New kaupapa Māori waiata project, Kōkōuri, launches today with the release of its inaugural EP, 'Hoata'. Driven by ringarehe Hana Mereraiha, Kōkōuri is a powerful celebration of Māori storytelling through waiata, bringing together established and emerging Māori artists producers and mātanga reo Māori.
Kōkōuri was born out of wānanga and deep collaboration - a space where composers come together to share their stories and musical skills. Blending personal experience, ancestral knowledge, and contemporary production, Kōkōuri explores its many layers as a cosmic presence, one deeply connected to mātauranga tuku iho, tikanga Māori, and the unique cultural identity of Aotearoa.
'Building on the legacy of Reo Māori Songhubs, this kaupapa brings together artists, producers, and storytellers across generations, from our tautōhito to emerging voices to compose original waiata that breathe life into our Reo, our stories, and our sound' says Mereraiha.
The wānanga was held at Roundhead Studios and exceeded expectations, producing 15 waiata across the three days.
The Kōkōuri project is unique in its intention to produce waiata through intense wānanga, releasing them as a unified body of work over three distinct EPs. Setting it apart is also its deliberate alignment with the Maramataka Māori, reflecting the project's connection to the lunar calendar and Mātauranga Tātai Arorangi (Māori astronomy).
Each EP cover will feature taiao inspired artwork by ringatoi Shannon Te Rangihaeata Clamp, with the 'Hoata' cover art reflecting the specific phase of the moon at the time of the EP release.
HOATA - EP One Released 27.06.25
1. Hinekauorohia – Whirimako Black | Produced by Seth Haapu & Rei 2. Pandemonium – Jordyn with a Why | Produced by Kings
3. Breathe – Naia | Produced by Kings
4. Kia ora rā – Chey Milne | Produced by Kings
5. Ko Tāua – Kiwa | Produced by Rei
Kōkōuri was established to foster Indigenous talent and share Māori narratives through waiata. Upcoming releases will be supported with lyric videos, animated by Māori artists, and behind the scenes content capturing the creative process.
As Kōkōuri continues to evolve, future albums will delve deeper into mātauranga ā iwi (tribal knowledge) and champion grassroots artists and writers, with plans for a mini-series profiling select artists and exploring the creation of their waiata.
About Kōkōuri
Kōkōuri is a kaupapa created in honour of Kōkōtea; a waiata composing wānanga for wāhine Māori initiated in 2023 by respected luminary, Dame Hinewehi Mohi. Kōkōuri was born in 2025 in association with Tauripua Creations, offering a tuakana-teina space for both emerging and established artists of diverse identities and backgrounds to collaborate within a kaupapa Māori framework.
Named after the melodious Tūī, Kōkōuri draws creative and spiritual inspiration from te ao Māori, with the artwork reflecting its cosmic symbolism and connection to the natural world.
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