IA Music Video Premiere & Taonga Pūoro Showcase

- Free Community Event
- Premiere screening of IA's latest live music clip 'Whetū'
- Taonga pūoro/traditional Maori instrument showcase (hear, see, Q&A)
- Registration required for entry

This screening has been made possible thanks to the help of the Waipa District Council Creative Communities Scheme.

Join us at the premiere screening of IA's new live performance video for the song titled Whetū followed by a taonga pūoro showcase. Embrace the chance to hear Māori music and learn more about traditional Māori instruments.

We respectfully ask that no alcohol be consumed at the event.

The Music Video:
Māori music collective IA’s new single titled ‘Whetū’ meaning star is set to be released 3 Sep 2021. So this will be an exclusive pre screening event! The song pays homage to taonga pūoro experts who were part of the revitalisation of these instruments but have since passed on. In Māori beliefs, when people pass on, they become the stars.

The song’s meaning inspired the idea to film a live performance under the night sky. Filmed at night on the shores of Lake Karapiro, the goal for this shoot was to capture the band performing live while also capturing the stars. The idea was a seemingly impossible challenge for the film crew. Due to the very particular camera settings and conditions that are needed to film stars, it was a technically difficult task to capture both the stars and the live band at the same time.

The Band:
IA create indigenous soul music featuring the voices of taonga pūoro. The pūoro voices are blended with modern instruments, ancient poetic writing style and modern, soulful melodies. IA has been discovering new frontiers with traditional Maori instruments by using taonga pūoro as the staring instruments in their compositions. Featuring Moetu Smith, Reti Hedley and Turoa Pohatu, the Waikato based music collective are dedicated to showcasing taonga pūoro and Te Reo Maori in their music.