Music

Waiata/Anthems: Bic Runga opens up about growing up in Christchurch and the backlash she faced for speaking her truth

12:20 pm on 8 May 2021

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“I remember not seeing anyone who looked like me.. as a family, we felt quite different” 

Following their 2019 number one album, Waiata/Anthems is back with new stories and songs to celebrate te reo Māori through the power of waiata. 

Waiata /Anthems is produced by champion of Māori music, Hinewehi Mohi, and this year we’re lucky enough to get not just an album, but a documentary series following local musicians translating their songs into te reo Māori.

The series features some of our best homegrown talent such as Drax Project, Katchafire’s Logan Bell, Bic Runga, Che Fu, MELODOWNZ, Annie Crummer, Hollie Smith and Don McGlashan.

Bic Runga’’s ‘There is No Time / Kāore He Wā’ features on the new series. She opens up about the racism and alienation she felt growing up in Christchurch as a Chinese/ Māori New Zealander, feeling isolated from her culture, and the backlash she faced for speaking her truth.