Kaihaka Kapa Haka took to social media expanding their welcome and said, "nau mai hoki mai ki Aotearoa e te Manu Korihi e SprawnBreezie." Photo: Screenshot / Kaihaka Kapan Haka
Reggae artist Spawnbreezie has described his welcome to Aotearoa as a "humbling" experience, as he was gifted a custom korowai.
The korowai, created by Wawata Designs Māori designer Elyse Wilton, was named 'Agape Love' - a reflection of Spawnbreezie's deep connection to his Samoan culture and family, Wilton said.
"The korowai reflects the deep love that Spawnbreezie holds for his culture, represented by the blue, white, and red feathers symbolising the Samoan flag. It also honours his family-represented in the black row at the base of the cloak-who are the core of his heart," she wrote on social media.
Wilton described the korowai as a "blanket of aroha", embodying Spawnbreezie's spirit and the values he upholds.
"When I think of love, I think of agape love-unconditional, unwavering, and not defined by circumstances," she wrote.
Wilton's nana was a master weaver and kaiako of weaving and korowai for years.
"As a child I remember helping my Nana set up and run her korowai classes, patiently waiting for the day she would let me make one."
Wilton said she made her first korowai at only seven years old, and was now "blessed" to run a business where she gets to create taonga.
Sprawnbreezie is set to perform at Auckland's Trusts Arena on Saturday for Eden Festival. Photo: Screenshot / Wawata Design
Spawnbreezie, whose real name is Anapongi Fau, said he was was deeply moved by the gesture and described the experience as "humbling."
"This beautiful whānau shares the same values and importance in upholding the culture. Thank you for this welcoming and love shown to the team and I," he said.
The gifting was part of a pōwhiri that took place on Tuesday when Spawnbreezie and his team arrived in Aotearoa. The well-known rōpū Kaihaka Kapa Haka led the pōwhiri, welcoming the artist with a "beautiful exchange" of Māori culture.
Sprawnbreezie thanked them for reminding him of the importance of celebrating one's culture.
Sprawnbreezie said it was "touching" to receive a welcoming from his whānau, and said it was a great reminder of the importance of culture. Photo: Screenshot / Kaihaka Kapa Haka
Kaihaka Kapa Haka, who have recently returned from a trip to China where they supported a New Zealand delegation at an expo, said it was an honour to share Māori culture with Spawnbreezie.
"How blessed we feel to uphold our Māori values and traditions in a modern-day context with manuhiri (guests), so they feel a deeper connection to the whenua (land) of Aotearoa and our people," the rōpū shared on social media.
"That's what it's all about."
Spawnbreezie is set to perform in Palmerston North on Friday night before headlining the much-anticipated Eden Festival in Auckland, where other international and local artists such as Jorja Smith, Kolohe Kai, Stan Walker, and Busta Rhymes will join him for the weekend event at The Trusts Arena.