H I V A F o l A U V A K A
Hiva Folau Vaka - Vaka Carrying Music is the legacy project for the PMA Trust, created to honour the 20th anniversary of the Pacific Music Awards. The project supports the creation of new original songs in Pacific languages, with the first phase of the project focusing on the languages of Vagahau Niue, Te Gagana Tokelau and Te Reo Maori Kuki Airani. From the realm nations, each of these languages are in an endangered and vulnerable state. We hope the songs created, will provide a positive and long term contribution to language revitalisation here in Aotearoa.
The project involves a village approach, bringing a collective together, with all the elements provided for the artists, including experienced producers, knowledge holders and quality recording studios. Three gatherings, of three days each, were hosted in Wellington and Auckland and the songs created will be released on a compilation album on Friday 28 November 2025.
United as a family, the village of artists, producers and knowledge holders all came together with the common purpose to honour these languages and contribute to their revitalisation. New songs were written and recorded and are all celebrated on the Hiva Folau Vaka album. We were blessed with incredible individuals who responded to the callt o be part of Hiva Folau Vaka. We are so grateful for the artists for the project, who are: Eseta, Fredwyn, Heiressofthegame, Jasmine Leota & Isitolo Alesana, Jere Snohh, Kitoria & Nayeza, Liana, Lio Soul, LJ Unuia, Malekeline, Mana Whenua Samoana, Rosetta Lopa & Nate Lopa, Tarani Takai, The Tuloto Band, Tilly & Sagita Lesa, Vitinia and Vox Dawn. We were fortunate to work with respected producers: Christian Mausia, David Atai, Vince Harder, Tenei '10A' Kesha, NOE and Trek One. The Centre for Pacific Languages supported the knowledge holders who were: Linda Zoll, Selina Patia, Molima Molly Pihigia QSM, Mal Lakatani, Kelekolio Perez, Penehe Tulafono and Siniva Foua.
Revitalising languages is a collective responsibility and requires a collective approach. We acknowledge all the existing work that individuals and organisations are doing across Aotearoa, to support the development of Pacific languages. With Hiva Folau Vaka, we are aiming to compliment and contribute to the revitalisation movement, through our platform of music. We wanted to provide a supported collective experience for Pacific artists and to create new original songs in our Pacific languages for our communities.
Through the album the collective share their love of their languages and are encouraging everyone to do their part to save our Pacific languages for the next generations that are to follow. We also want to encourage others to learn their languages and create new songs in Pacific languages as well.
We thank and acknowledge the funding received from NZ On Air which allowed this project to take place, the partnership with the Centre for Pacific Languages; the support from Big Pop Studios, Massey University - Ahumairangi Studio, APRA |AMCOS and Universal Music. Most of all we thank the artists, producers, engineers, knowledge holders and supporters who brought Hiva Folau Vaka to life.
Keep an eye here and on our socials for more information about the project and album:
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PROJECT OUTCOMES
To reach the main outcome of writing, recording and releasing new original songs in the languages of Vagahau Niue, Te Gagana Tokelau or Te Reo Maori Kuki Airani, we had to first create the overall project and curate each of the gtherings. When developing Hiva Folau Vaka, the Trust wanted to create a collaborative village approach, that was underpinned with Pasifika values. For each gathering we wanted to support our artists, to write and record their songs by the end of the three days. To do this we provided a number of elements, with the main details being the professional studio, experienced music producers, knowledge holders and the collective.
By the end of each gathering we wanted each artist to have completed at least one recording, particularly all the vocal and music elements, ready for the listening session at the end of the final day. Then the producers would take the files away, to finallise the details for the recording and work on the final mix at their own studios, after the gathering. The Trust will then provide support content, documentary content and promotional material to prepare for and to support the release of the songs on the planned compilation album.
Revitalising language through music
Hiva Volau Vaka features new music written in Vagahau Niue, Te Gagana Tokelau and Te Reo Maori Kuki Airani. Through our research and feedback from the community, it was important to focus on the languages of the realm nations for the first phase of the project, given their vulnerable state. UNESCO recognises these languages as endangered and New Zealand's Pacific Languages Strategy identifies them as needing urgent revitalisation. Hiva Folau Vaka celebrates these languages through the songs written and recorded during the project. The Trust hopes to share the beauty and importance of these languages, inspire new connections and encourage new speakers and songs. For these languages to survive they need collective support from communities, educators and allies. We hope you will join us on this journey.
PROJECT OUTCOMES
To reach the main outcome of writing, recording and releasing new original songs in the languages of Vagahau Niue, Te Gagana Tokelau or Te Reo Maori Kuki Airani, we had to first create the overall project and curate each of the gtherings. When developing Hiva Folau Vaka, the Trust wanted to create a collaborative village approach, that was underpinned with Pasifika values. For each gathering we wanted to support our artists, to write and record their songs by the end of the three days. To do this we provided a number of elements, with the main details being the professional studio, experienced music producers, knowledge holders and the collective.
By the end of each gathering we wanted each artist to have completed at least one recording, particularly all the vocal and music elements, ready for the listening session at the end of the final day. Then the producers would take the files away, to finallise the details for the recording and work on the final mix at their own studios, after the gathering. The Trust will then provide support content, documentary content and promotional material to prepare for and to support the release of the songs on the planned compilation album.
Revitalising language through music
Hiva Volau Vaka features new music written in Vagahau Niue, Te Gagana Tokelau and Te Reo Maori Kuki Airani. Through our research and feedback from the community, it was important to focus on the languages of the realm nations for the first phase of the project, given their vulnerable state. UNESCO recognises these languages as endangered and New Zealand's Pacific Languages Strategy identifies them as needing urgent revitalisation. Hiva Folau Vaka celebrates these languages through the songs written and recorded during the project. The Trust hopes to share the beauty and importance of these languages, inspire new connections and encourage new speakers and songs. For these languages to survive they need collective support from communities, educators and allies. We hope you will join us on this journey.
Thank you and Acknowledgements
Content Production
Pilot Documentation/film: Robert George (The Raro Dog)
Pilot Photography: Jasmine Wright (Hegalo Manulevu Photography)
Auckland Documentation/film: Robert George (The Raro Dog)
Auckland Photography: Ethan Harris
Wellington Documentation/film: Mark Papali'i
Wellington Photography: Te Awanui Reeder (Big River Creative)
Funders and Supporters
NZ On Air | Irirangi Te Motu
Centre for Pacific Languages
Big Pop Studios
Massey University - Ahumairangi Studio
APRA|AMCOS
Universal Music