Moana Maniapoto (MNZM) is a renowned singer, songwriter, documentary maker, and the leader of the acclaimed band Moana & the Tribe. With their distinctive haka-funk-dub-fusion sound and politically charged lyrics, the band has graced international stages, including iconic venues such as Herodus Atticus in Athens, the Sydney Opera House in Australia, Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Sziget in Budapest, Le Club in Moscow, and the Shanghai World Expo.

As a founding trustee of Toi Iho and the Māori Music Industry Coalition, Moana has been a staunch advocate for Māori music. Her contributions earned her the APRA Maioha Award Art Laureate (NZ Arts Foundation), and she was inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame (APRA-Amcos) in 2016. Recognized by IMNZ as the Taite Music Classic Album in 2019 for her debut album "Tahi," Moana was also honored as a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Auckland in the same year.

Her sixth studio album, "Ono," launched in 2024 as Moana continues to push creative boundaries. "Aio ana Aio Ana," a track from her repertoire, was showcased at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, reaching a live audience of 200,000 and a broadcast audience of 100 million.

In addition to her musical pursuits, Moana, along with her partner Toby Mills, has made significant contributions to documentary filmmaking. Their projects include 'The Negotiators,' a 7-part series exploring treaty settlements, and 'Guarding the Family Silver,' which delves into the clash between the western Intellectual Property system and Mātauranga Māori. Her feature documentary, 'Moana Jackson: Portrait of a Quiet Revolutionary,' adds to her impressive body of work.

Moana's involvement extends beyond the stage and screen. As a co-convenor of Ngā Toki Whakarururanga, she plays a pivotal role in establishing a tiriti-focused leadership model, ensuring meaningful Māori influence throughout free trade negotiations. As the host, associate producer, and reporter for 'Te Ao with Moana' (Whakaata Māori), she received the Supreme Award at the 2020 Ngā Kupu Ora Māori Journalism Awards and led her show to win the Best Current Affairs Series at the Voyager Media Awards in 2021 and 2022.

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