Kapowairua (New Zealand)

Maori singer Kapowairua Waitai from Aotearoa performs both traditional and contemporary waiata, weaving themes of heritage, identity, and community into her music. From Ngāti Kuri in Northland, she has gained recognition through works such as Maharatia, which honours the five tribes of Muriwhenua, and her te reo Māori rendition of Aradhana’s Brown Girl, titled He Kōtiro Māori. She performs with her mother, Leonie Adams, who helps bring ancestral stories and northern traditions to life, and her sister Maria McLean. Together, the three embody a family-centred approach to Māori music, blending intergenerational voices with cultural pride to keep traditional songs vibrant and accessible for younger audiences.