Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori Waiata Performance by acclaimed musicians 'Aro', Charles and Emily Looker
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Award-winning Te Tiriti-based duo Aro create bilingual music that brings whānau together through waiata, storytelling, and connection. Made up of Charles Looker (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Te Ata, Ngāti Mutunga) and Emily Looker, Aro blend Emily's honey-voiced jazz with Charles' full-throated, haka-inspired rhythms to create a sound that is both distinctive and deeply rooted in Aotearoa.
This interactive performance invites tamariki and their whānau to sing, move, and join in through original waiata, playful participation, and stories inspired by te reo Māori, te taiao, and everyday life. Whether you're hearing Aro for the first time or already know the songs, everyone is welcome to take part.
Aro remind us of our sacredness with expressions of their unique cultural identity. Blending Emily's honey-voiced jazz with Charles' full throated percussive sound with shades of haka, Aro's performance adds up to a warmth of experience, wholly original, anchored in Aotearoa that leave all who experience them with the feeling of having been let in on a special secret.
Aro are known for their rich harmonies, heartfelt storytelling, and bilingual waiata inspired by whānau, whenua, and te ao Māori. Since forming in 2017, they have toured extensively across Aotearoa, released five studio projects, numerous singles in between, and won Best Pop Album at the Waiata Māori Music Awards for He Rākau He Ngārara (2024). Their latest album Tāwauwau (2026) explores fantasy, faith, beauty, and longing, and has been celebrated as a finalist for the APRA Maioha award.
This event will be held in Ngā Paiaka Bleachers, Ground Floor, Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui. Free entry performance.
This interactive performance invites tamariki and their whānau to sing, move, and join in through original waiata, playful participation, and stories inspired by te reo Māori, te taiao, and everyday life. Whether you're hearing Aro for the first time or already know the songs, everyone is welcome to take part.
Aro remind us of our sacredness with expressions of their unique cultural identity. Blending Emily's honey-voiced jazz with Charles' full throated percussive sound with shades of haka, Aro's performance adds up to a warmth of experience, wholly original, anchored in Aotearoa that leave all who experience them with the feeling of having been let in on a special secret.
Aro are known for their rich harmonies, heartfelt storytelling, and bilingual waiata inspired by whānau, whenua, and te ao Māori. Since forming in 2017, they have toured extensively across Aotearoa, released five studio projects, numerous singles in between, and won Best Pop Album at the Waiata Māori Music Awards for He Rākau He Ngārara (2024). Their latest album Tāwauwau (2026) explores fantasy, faith, beauty, and longing, and has been celebrated as a finalist for the APRA Maioha award.
This event will be held in Ngā Paiaka Bleachers, Ground Floor, Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui. Free entry performance.
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Where is it happening?
65 Victoria Street, Wellington, New Zealand 6011, New Zealand
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherWellington City Libraries
