Latest news from Moana...

Kia ora from Toronto (6 May)
We had a dramatic last night in Toronto getting rescued from an elevator at 4am by 6 burly firemen! Yes, 9 of us were trapped in the elevator - me, Trina and Cadz with about 6 local native Canadians.
Our mates are a seriously entertaining bumch - but got really hot and we were in there for over 30 minutes. We had to ring
911. So embarassing!

We had a fantastic response to our performance at the Toronto University with real keen and serious interest in us returning to Canada in 2009.

Not bad considering it was just the 4 of us. I asked a native American musician John Carlos Peara to play flute on a number of our songs (sounded just as great as Horo) and he did that really amazingly intense indian chanting over the Ancestors outro where the haka usually comes in.

I also had two talented Cree women get up and add extra vocal harmonies as well play the indian drum. Then we had a Sami woman yoik over a vocal harmony section in Titia.

It really worked musically and culturally. Just wonderful and a real honour that these musicians performed with us.

Now we will return home and prepare for our album launches - looking forward to that!

Our album is out - yayyyy...get it in the shops!

GIG ALERT! (17 Apr)
Get your tickets from Real Groovy Records (Queen St) or email this website for our album launch at the Galatos, Auckland on May 15th. Moana & the tribe will be sharing the stage with one of the top male vocalists in the country - and a great songwriter, Hareruia Aperahama. Ruia and his band will play a 50 minute set and then, our band will do a 50 minuter.

My band that night will feature new members Ryan Monga (percussion), Kaitapu Monga (bass), Ashley Brown (cello) and Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper (violin). Cadzow Cossar, Amiria Reriti and Trina Maniapoto will be fronting the band alongside myself.

It will be a fantastic night!

Check out our new songs and be the first one to buy the new CD WHA.

Watch out (3 Apr)
Our new CD is heading into mixing and mastering now - and I really love all the songs. We are rehearsing our band for a whole bunch of concerts and nailing our monthlong tour in Europe - can't wait!!!!

It's raining here in Auckland - gone is the summer, but we had a great one.

Watch out! (25 Feb)
We may be performing in a place near you - keep an eye on our tour dates! In May, we launch our album at the Lake Taupo Arts Festival on May 10th then into Auckland at the Galatos on May 15th. Then, we head off to Bonn for a private event hosted by the United Nations and the German government. We play alongside Bob Geldof, Hugh Maskela, Daniela Mercury and Gocoo - how damn cool is that?

Before that though, some of us fly to Torontofor a small gig at a local university. In June, we head off to Europe - who knows, we may even get back to Russia. God, I'm tired just writing this!

What I am most happy with is the fact that we have wrapped our new album - and I am loving it. I'm working at Beaver Studios, mainly with Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper and he is a true talent. And joining us in Europe for our month long tour.

So, watch this space!

Big Thrill (29 Nov)
I joined four other artists who were made Art Laureates recently, a big thrill for me. It was overwhelming as the recipients are chosen without ever knowing that they are being considered. A group of artists and art patrons makes a decision on behalf of the Arts Foundation, an independent Trust set up to support the arts through providing recognition and awards. My Laureate award came with a
$50 000 grant!

We were awarded our trophies at a wonderful ceremony in Wellington. I was joined by band members, whanau and friends - then it was my treat! We ate and drank a bit of that award money.