Ka Hao

Founded in 2019 in Te Tairāwhiti (Gisborne District), New Zealand, Ka Hao is a New Zealand youth choir who perform music exclusively in te Reo (Māori language). Formed initially as a project to raise awareness and revitalise New Zealand's connection to its indigenous roots, the group’s name refers to the Māori rite of passage into adulthood with many of its 24 members from the Ngāti Porou regions in the North Island of New Zealand. Making their debut in October 2019, the choir performed at the Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival, collaborating with well-known Māori artists on the live visual gospel album Mōhau, earning them the Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo Award and the award for Best Worship Artist Te Kaipuoro Kairangi Toa award at the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards. In 2021, Ka Hao were invited to perform with award-winning artist Rob Ruha on “Taka Rawa” from his award-winning album Preservation of Scenery, releasing their debut album, Ka Hao: One Tira, One Voice in September with platinum-certified lead single “35” gaining them considerable popularity online, peaking at number 1 on the New Zealand Artist Charts and earning them the award for Best Māori Artist at the 2022 Aotearoa Music Awards