THURSDAY, 19TH JUNE 2025

Te KuraHuia manifests ancestral power and Pasifika pride with ‘BIG MANA’

Don’t forget the capital H. Te KuraHuia is spelling it out loud and proud, and with good reason. The rising Māori-Pasifika artist, actor and storyteller is making waves across music and performance with a fierce sense of identity, ancestral purpose and unapologetic self-expression.

Fresh from representing Aotearoa at Tkaronto (Toronto) Turtle Island alongside a heavy-hitting lineup including Lady Shaka, Rei and MELODOWNZ, Te KuraHuia is back on home soil and ready to shake things up again. Next up is the release of their high-energy, visually charged new music video ‘BIG MANA’ dropping June 20.

Inspired by the strength and spirit of Disney’s Moana and originally created during the 2023 BIG FAN Pasifika Vol. 2 Fan Camp, ‘BIG MANA’ is a pulsating upbeat Mana Moana anthem that blends Pasifika pate rhythms with bold modern production. Featuring powerhouse talents Kenzie From Welly and TONE6’s Melli, it’s a track that celebrates confidence, culture and the sheer force of being seen.

For Te KuraHuia ‘BIG MANA’ is a calling. Raised by kaumātua from birth, their work is deeply grounded in whakapapa and wairua, guided by what they describe as the dying wish of their ancestors. Whether on stage, in studio or onscreen, they carry that legacy forward.

Currently in their final year at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, Te KuraHuia is completing a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting), balancing studies with a rapidly growing multidisciplinary career. Their next major release is the visual EP ASTRO-TĪPUNA, set to premiere on YouTube soon, blending celestial futurism with ancestral knowledge in a way only they could conjure.

A voice rooted in kaupapa, performance and mana wahine power, Te KuraHuia is shaping up to be one of Aotearoa’s most vital new artists. Keep your eyes on the capital H and everything it stands for.