Moana Maree Maniapoto (born 22 June 1961) is a New Zealand singer, songwriter and documentary maker. Widely considered one of New Zealand's most successful indigenous acts, her music is described as a fusion of traditional MÃÂori haka, chants and taonga pà «oro, with contemporary soul, reggae and classical styles. Moana was married to New Zealand politician and radio personality Willie Jackson for 15 years, during which time she was known as Moana Maniapoto-Jackson. The couple divorced in 2001 and have one son, journalist and producer Hikurangi Kimiora Jackson. In 2016, Moana was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. Moana has been in a relationship with Director and Producer Toby Mills for over 20 years.
Maniapoto was born in Invercargill, New Zealand. Her MÃÂori father, Nepia Tauri Maniapoto, was of NgÃÂti Tà «wharetoa and Te Arawa descent. Her Southland-born mother, Bernadette Elizabeth Margaret (née Honywood; 1936âÂÂ2025), was of Irish and English heritage. Maniapoto attended St Joseph's MÃÂori Girls' College in Napier and completed her secondary school education at McKillop College, Rotorua. She is said to have paid her way through Auckland law school by singing covers in the highly competitive Auckland club circuit. She was raised Roman Catholic, with her cousin Max Mariu being the first MÃÂori bishop. However during her college years Maniapoto began to question her Catholic beliefs, and abandoned them entirely after the birth of her children. She now considers herself a follower of traditional MÃÂori spirituality.
In 1986, Moana debuted as a solo artist and released "Kua Makona" as a part of a campaign for the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand. The song was produced by Maui Dalvanius Prime and peaked at number 27 on the RIANZ singles chart. In 1989, Moana formed Moana and the Moahunters with Teremoana Rapley and Mina Ripia.
In 1990, Moana and the Moahunters released "Black Pearl" which peaked at number 2 on the national charts in 1991, earning Moana her first gold.
In 1991, Moana and the Moahunters released "AEIOU (Akona Te Reo)" (), which combined rap with traditional MÃÂori song. The lyrics of the single urged MÃÂori youth to work to preserve their culture and traditions, learn about their history, and for all New Zealanders to learn the MÃÂori language. The song was nominated for several awards in 1991. The band released their debut album Tahi in August 1993.
The band's second album, Rua, combined pop, hip-hop and MÃÂori music. The songs on the album dealt with themes such as spirituality and prophecy, and the album cover used traditional MÃÂori symbols. Other songs discussed colonial issues, such as the Treaty of Waitangi, signed between the MÃÂori people and the British government in the 1840s. The group scored a gold record in New Zealand and a hit single. Moana retired the group after performing at the 1998 Vancouver Folk Festival.
Moana and the Moahunters were well known for pioneering a distinctively MÃÂori form of popular music, during a period when MÃÂori language and culture was not as widely accepted or promoted as today. The band had a significant influence due to their style and message to the public. Besides their music, the group was well-known for their use of the traditional MÃÂori haka. During concerts they projected images behind them related to the MÃÂori people, such as the New Zealand landscape or traditional MÃÂori tÃÂ moko tattooing.
Although they rap mostly in English, as most MÃÂori youth did not speak much MÃÂori in the early 1990s, the group's lyrics emphasise the necessity of studying their history and culture. When the group received a New Zealand Music Industry award in 1992, they accused the New Zealand radio of racism against MÃÂori groups, whose music was categorised as "underground" and refused airtime by DJs.
In 2002, Moana formed the band Moana and the Tribe which consisted of a large group of musicians and performers with a passion for MÃÂori culture. Since their formation, the band has become one of the most successful indigenous bands to emerge from New Zealand.
In May 2008, Moana released Wha. She toured in 2008 and 2009 Germany, Australia, Netherlands, Turkey, New Zealand and performed at the opening of the Biennale in Venice / Italy in June 2009. Moana & the Tribe launched songs from their 5th album Rima in 2014 at Womad NZ.
In 2014, Moana and her band formed the Boomerang Collaboration with Scottish band Breabach, Shellie Morris, Casey Donovan and Djakapurra, playing concerts at Womad NZ, Sydney Opera House and HebCelt (Scotland). Rima was a finalist at the 2015 Vodafone NZ Music Awards and the song "Upokohue" was a finalist in the APRA Maioha Award. It won 2nd place in the World category at the International Songwriting Contest.
Moana is one half of an award-winning film-making team led by her partner and band member Toby Mills. Their documentary work includes Guarding the Family Silver, which screened in the National Geographic All Roads Film Festival and The Russians are Coming, which played at the Sydney Opera House during the Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival in 2012.
She is also a regular writer for the MÃÂori and Pacific online weekly newspaper e-tangata.
Moana is the presenter of the weekly current affairs television programme Te Ao with Moana, which broadcasts at 8 pm every Monday on MÃÂori Television and is currently in its 7th season. Her son, award winning journalist Hikurangi Kimiora Jackson, produces the show.
Moana won the grand prize at the 2003 International Songwriting Competition with her song "Moko". In 2003, New Zealand Herald described Moana's music as "music of great depth and beauty".
In the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours, Moana was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to MÃÂori and music. She is also a Life Time Recipient of the Toi Iho MÃÂori Made Mark and received the 2005 Te Tohu Mahi Hou a Te Waka Toi Award from Te Waka Toi (Creative N.Z.), in recognition of her outstanding leadership and contribution to the development of new directions in MÃÂori art. Moana received a Music Industry Award at the Maori Waiata 2008 Awards, also for her positive contribution to MÃÂori Music.
At the 2019 Taite Music Prize awards, Moana and the Moahunters won the seventh annual Independent Music NZ Classic Record award for Tahi, 26 years after its release.
The Aotearoa Music Awards (previously known as New Zealand Music Awards (NZMA)) are an annual awards night celebrating excellence in New Zealand music and have been presented annually since 1965.
! |- |rowspan="2"| 1987 || Moana â "Kua Makona" || Polynesian of the Year || ||rowspan="15"| |- | Moana || Most Promising Female|| |- |1988 || Moana Moahunters|| Polynesian of the Year|| |- |rowspan="2"| 1989 || Moana & The Moahunters â "Pupurutia" || Polynesian of the Year|| |- | Moana Jackson || Female of the Year || |- |rowspan="4"|1992 || Moana & The Moahunters â "A.E.I.O.U." || MÃÂori of the Year|| |- | Moana Jackson || Female of the Year || |- | Teremoana Rapley â Moana & The Moahunters/MC OJ || Most Promising Female || |- | Moana & The Moahunters â "A.E.I.O.U." || Music Video of the Year || |- |rowspan="2"|1996 || Moana and The Moahunters â "Give it Up Now" || Mana MÃÂori of the Year|| |- | Moana and The Moahunters â "Akona te Reo '95" || Mana Reo || |- |rowspan="2"|1999 || Moana and The Moahunters â Rua || Mana MÃÂori of the Year|| |- | Moana and The Moahunters â Rua || Mana Reo || |- | 2008 || Moana & the Tribe â Wha || MÃÂori of the Year|| |- | 2015 || Moana & the Tribe â Rima || MÃÂori of the Year|| |- | 2016 || Moana || New Zealand Music Hall of Fame || || |-