Rangatahi Animator launches Boosted Campaign to create series of animated waiata teaching te reo Māori

19-year-old animator Turanga Mahutonga is creating Waiata Bro’s: A series of fun animated music videos that teach words and phrases in te reo Māori for everyone to sing along to.

Turanga Mahutonga grew up in a Māori speaking whānau in Rotorua. Music and art was celebrated and encouraged at home, so it’s little wonder that Turanga combines his creative talent with his passion for te reo Māori. 

It all came together earlier this year, when Turanga moved to Ōtaki for a six week animation intensifier course at the Māoriland Tech Creative Hub – MATCH.

For his graduation project Turanga presented an animation of waiata and te reo Māori aimed at young children. The tune was a hit right away with children and adults alike.  Turanga knew he was onto something.

“Everyone was happy when they heard my waiata. They quickly picked up the words and I would hear them singing it for days afterwards. Even those who were learning te reo Māori were singing along. It was exactly what I wanted to happen and it spurred me to write and animate more waiata” says Turanga.

Turanga has a vision. It’s called WAIATA BRO’S. He plans to write, sing and animate 15 catchy waiata that offer words and phrases to help anyone feel comfortable about speaking te reo. He is a third of the way through a list of songs that include language about Atua Māori, kai, jobs, animals, numbers, emotions, pepeha and greetings.

It’s the waiata about greetings and mihi that Turanga has decided to release in time for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori. 

“It’s a waiata of greetings used from the morning to the end of a day. My whakaaro is that by singing it, more people will be able to use te reo Māori every day.” says Turanga.

At the same time as the release of his first music video, Turanga and MATCH are launching a Boosted campaign to raise funds so he can write and animate 10 more waiata for his Waiata Bro’s collection.