Māori Music Songwriting Advice

This is for musicians who want to write songs that sit in te ao Māori with integrity and fire. You might be a Māori artist wanting to sharpen your waiata game. You might be a non Māori collaborator who wants to help without being that person who does cultural damage. Either way you are in the right place. This guide is practical, blunt, and full of useful studio tricks. It is also rooted in respect. We will cover language prosody, traditional forms, taonga pūoro or traditional instruments, how to work with kaumātua or elders, songwriting templates, production ideas, and legal and ethical notes about tikanga and cultural intellectual property.

You will get exact exercises you can do in the next hour. You will get examples you can sing into your phone. You will also get scripts for asking permission and working with whānau and iwi. If you want to create music that honours whakapapa and still bangs on Spotify playlists, read on.

Want to be clear about terms

If any terms look like a new language class, here are quick definitions that you can copy into a text and not sound like a muppet.

• Māori The indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand. Use the word with respect.
• reo Māori The Māori language. Reo means language.
• waiata Song. A waiata can be a pop song, a lament, a work song, or a chant.
• mōteatea Traditional chant or lament. It often carries strong whakapapa and history.
• taonga pūoro Traditional Māori instruments such as pūtōrino, kōauau, and pūtātara. Taonga means treasured thing. Pūoro means sound or music.
• kaumātua Elders. Important cultural advisors and knowledge holders.
• iwi Tribe. Hapū means sub tribe. Whānau means extended family.
• tikanga Customary practices and protocols. Things you should ask about before using tikanga elements.
• whakapapa Genealogy or lineage. It can be literal family tree or an idea of origin and connection.
• mana Authority, prestige, spiritual power. Songs often relate to mana.
• kaitiakitanga Guardianship. Cultural ideas about caring for taonga including music.

Core principle one: People first then creative choices

You cannot fake relationship. If you want to write tribal waiata or use iwi specific motifs, do not skip the conversation with kaumātua. Ask about kawa which means customary rules for formal events. Ask about where a particular mōteatea can be sung and where it cannot. If someone tells you a waiata or a chant is tapu or sacred, accept that and plan a different creative angle. Permission is not optional. That is not a mood killer. It is the single move that keeps your career long term and your conscience clean.

Real life scenario

You are making a pop song with a hook in reo Māori. You love a mōteatea line you heard at a tangi or funeral. Do not copy it into your chorus. Call the kaumātua, say who you are, who your producer is, and ask if that line is appropriate. Offer to credit and to fund a proper kaupapa or payoff if the kaumātua want that. Chances are you will get a yes plus a story that makes the lyric 10 times better.

Core principle two: Learn the language prosody before you write

Reo Māori has its own music. The cadence of vowels and where stress falls changes how words sing. If you write like you are writing English, the words will get squashed or sound unnatural. Do a prosody pass on every line.

Prosody practical

• Speak the line at conversation speed. Mark which syllables are naturally stressed. Those syllables should land on strong beats or long notes.
• Māori words often end on vowels. Let notes resolve into the vowel. Do not force consonant heavy cadences on final syllables.
• Watch vowel colour. The vowels a, e, i, o, u have clear tonal shapes in singing. Test each line by singing on sustained vowels and notice which notes feel comfortable high or low.

Real life scenario

You write the chorus Naku te aroha like you would sing in English. It feels cramped. Try this instead. Sing Na-a-ku te a-ro-ha with each vowel getting a beat. Let the last a float. The difference is huge.

How traditional forms inform modern songwriting

Māori tradition has many song types. Knowing what they are gives you a vocabulary to borrow responsibly. You do not need to be a scholar. You do need an attitude that asks and credits.

• Waiata aroha Love songs. Can be modern pop or old laments.
• Waiata tangi Laments. Deeply tied to death, loss, and memory.
• Mōteatea Formal chants. Often narrative, with archaic language and specific performance contexts.
• Haka Performed posture and chant. There are haka for celebration, challenge, and mourning. Haka are powerful and often reserved for certain occasions.

If you borrow a form, ask about context. A mōteatea line might be an old kawa of grief and not for a club banger. A whakataukī or proverb might be free to use but still deserves credit and correct application. A whakataukī is more than a catchy line. It carries meaning and history.

Writing lyrics in reo Māori: practical templates

You can write in reo Māori with honesty and not pretend you are fluent. Here are templates that scale up with your language skill.

Template A: Simple chorus in reo Māori with English bridge

1. Pick a single emotional idea in plain language. Example I will come home. Translate to reo with help. Example Ka hoki au ki te kāinga.
2. Make the chorus short. Two to four short lines. Repeat the key phrase once.
3. Write verses in English if your reo is still developing. Put a short phrase in reo at the end of each verse to anchor the theme.

Example chorus

Ka hoki au ki te kāinga

Ka hoki au ki te kāinga

Whakarongo mai, aroha nei

Translation

I will come home

I will come home

Listen, this love

Template B: Full reo chorus with repeating vowel tag

1. Write the title as a short phrase that is easy to sing. Example Mārama meaning clear or understood.
2. Make a ring phrase where the chorus opens and closes with the title.
3. Use a repeating vowel tag like a long aa or eh at the end to create space for harmonies or taonga pūoro.

Example chorus

Mārama mārama aa

Mārama i taku manawa aa

Mārama mārama aa

Translation

Clear clear aa

Clear in my heart aa

Clear clear aa

Melody ideas rooted in Māori sound

Māori traditional melodies often use small intervals, pentatonic patterns, and ornamentation on long vowels. Modern Māori music mixes those elements with Western harmony. Use tiny ornaments or slides into long notes to give your melody a Māori feel without copying a specific chant.

Melody recipe

1. Start with a pentatonic motif. Play notes that avoid the fourth of the scale for a folk like quality.
2. Add a small slide at the start of long vowels. This can be a micro slide on the second syllable.
3. Keep the verse mostly stepwise and low. Open into the chorus with a leap of a third or fourth for lift.
4. Use repeated notes or repeated phrases. Repetition is a common and powerful mnemonic device in waiata.

Real life scenario

Producer plays a simple loop in Em that uses E G A B D. You sing a motif that repeats three times and then opens on a high A for the title. Add a kōauau like flute in the background on long notes and you have a track that nods to tradition and sits in contemporary mix.

Taonga pūoro: use them like seasoning not the whole meal

Taonga pūoro are traditional instruments with spiritual significance. Examples include pūtōrino a wooden flute like instrument, kōauau a small flute, and pūtātara a large conch trumpet. These sounds are evocative and must be used with care and context. If you are not Māori, buy or hire recordings from practitioners and credit them. Ask about protocols for recording, sampling and performing.

Production tips

• Place taonga pūoro in the arrangement to announce space and to create breathing moments. They work best when mixed dry to keep intimacy and then send to a tasteful reverb.
• Do not loop a sacred instrument sound as a gimmick. Use short phrases and let silence do the work.
• Balance frequencies. Some taonga occupy mid to high frequency ranges. Carve space for vocals and low end separately. Taonga should not fight the lead vocal.

Working with kaumātua and knowledge holders

Kaumātua bring context, language accuracy, and stories that lift a song from good to unforgettable. They also protect mana. Here is a simple script for reaching out that does not sound like a mailbox spam request.

Permission script you can text or email

Tēnā koe. Ko [your name] tōku ingoa. I waiata tonu au me te kaupapa o [short project description]. I hiahia au ki te tono āwhina kaituhi me te manaaki i tō iwi me ngā kaumātua mō te whakamahi i te kupu me te kōrero. Ka taea e au te utu mō te wā me te whakaaro? Kia ora mō tō wā. [your contact]

Translation

Hello. My name is [your name]. I make music and my project is about [short project description]. I would like to ask for guidance and manaakitanga from your kaumātua about using words and stories. I can pay for time and expertise. Thank you for your time. [contact]

If the kaumātua say yes, record the conversation with permission and agree on credit lines and payment. If they say no, thank them and pivot. A polite pivot keeps doors open for future work.

Legal and ethical notes about cultural intellectual property

There is a difference between copyright law and customary ownership. Copyright covers lyrics and recordings but does not automatically protect whakapapa or tikanga. Many iwi and marae have their own expectations about how their waiata are used. Some waiata are tapu and restricted. Learn whether the material you want to use is public domain, protected by copyright, or protected by custom. When in doubt get permission and record the agreement in writing.

Real life scenario

A producer downloads a recording of a māōri chant from a museum archive and samples it for a beat. The family of the singer complain. Legal issues follow and social media goes sideways. This is avoidable with a ten minute phone call and a small fee up front.

Arrangement and dynamics for waiata that land in modern playlists

You want the song to work on radio and streaming playlists and also to stand up on the marae or at a kaupapa event. That requires careful balancing of contemporary production and cultural form.

• Keep the intro recognisable to te ao Māori if the song is for that audience. A short kōauau phrase or a subtle whaikōrero style vocal can set the place.
• Let verses breathe. Use space and minimal instrumentation so the verse feels like a kōrero or story. Build into chorus with additional layers and vocal doubles.
• Leave one bare moment for a taonga pūoro or mōteatea phrase. It is the emotional anchor.
• Final chorus can include call and response for live performance. Call and response is powerful in community contexts.

Rhyme, metaphor and whakataukī

Whakataukī are proverbs that pack dense meaning. Using them can enrich a lyric if used correctly. If you use a whakataukī credit it. And make sure you understand its full meaning. Metaphors in Māori waiata often use whenua, moana, and atua imagery. Use your own whakapapa images before borrowing someone else iwi imagery.

Example before after

Before: My love is like the sea.

After: Ko taku aroha he taiwhanga ki te moana. The tide keeps returning to the place it knows.

Beat making and groove with Māori flavour

Modern Māori artists balance hip hop, R B, electronic and indie with Māori language and instruments. Rhythmically you can pull from kapa haka movement or from rhythms used in waiata party songs. Use percussive samples that nod toward Māori percussion such as patu on a wood block or body percussion. Keep the groove human and not overly quantised when the lyric is in reo because natural breath and speech rhythm are part of the song's integrity.

Groove checklist

• Record live percussion where possible. Body percussion and poi slaps have a unique texture.
• Keep subtle tempo fluctuations to keep the vocal feeling alive.
• Sidechain less. Let taonga pūoro and vocals breathe. Heavy pumping effects can feel disrespectful with certain elements.

Recording vocals in reo Māori

When you record the lead vocal do multiple passes. Dial the mic so vowel clarity is pronounced. Reo needs space to articulate vowels properly. Double the chorus or add close harmony, but keep verses intimate. If the lyric contains long sustained vowels consider recording a breath pass where you place breaths musically.

Mic technique tips

• Use a pop shield and set the mic a little closer than usual so the vowel body is clearly captured.
• Record at least three passes of each chorus: conversational, lifted, and ad lib.
• Edit conservatively. Leave small imperfections that give the performance life and indicate authenticity.

Songwriting exercises to make you fluent in Māori songwriting

Exercise 1 Voice pattern copy

1. Listen to a waiata you love that is not tapu and is shared for the public. Sing along to map stress and vowel length. Do not record or sample.
2. Write three new lines in English that match the rhythm and then translate with a fluent friend or a translator. Sing the translated lines back and adjust for stress.

Exercise 2 The whare memory drill

1. Pick a memory of home, a river, a mountain or a favourite kai or meal. Write five concrete details. Example river, cold stones, eels, a grey sky, my tupuna name.
2. Turn those details into three two line couplets in reo Māori where each line ends on a vowel.
3. Pair the couplets with a simple pentatonic motif and sing them in a loop for five minutes. Record one rough take. That is your verse seed.

Exercise 3 Call and response live test

1. Write a one line chorus in reo that is easy to repeat. Example Kia kaha meaning be strong.
2. Practice with friends or whānau as a call and response. Use claps or poi hits as a response.
3. Adjust the phrase so it is easy for a group to sing together and sustain.

How to finish a song with cultural sense

Closing a waiata for public release requires one more cultural pass. Check lyrics with someone fluent. Check that no tapu has been breached. Confirm credit and payment for contributors. Finalise metadata to include reo and English titles where helpful. Add a note in the liner or the release describing the kaupapa behind the song. That small step builds trust with audiences and with future collaborators.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

• Using mōteatea lines without permission. Fix by asking kaumātua and by rephrasing into your own original whakataukī styled line.
• Singing reo with wrong stress. Fix with prosody drills and by recording spoken lines first.
• Overproducing taonga pūoro. Fix by pulling back, using short phrases, and letting silence be musical.
• Trying to be a spokesperson for all Māori. Fix by being specific about your whakapapa or by framing the song as a collaboration and crediting contributors.

Real examples you can steal ethically

These are short examples for practice. For each example sing the English then the reo. Use the prosody checklist and record two takes.

Example 1

English: I will walk back to the river at dawn.

Reo: Ka hikoi au ki te awa i te ata.

Example 2

English: Your laugh opens the room like sunrise.

Reo: Ko tō kata te tīmatanga o te rā i taku rūma.

Example 3 chorus

English chorus: Come home baby come home.

Reo chorus: Haere mai ki te kāinga, haere mai ki te kāinga.

Distribution and playlist strategies

When you release waiata that mix reo and English think about bilingual metadata. Use both language fields on streaming platforms where allowed. Tag with Māori genre keywords and with contemporary genres like hip hop R B or electronic. Pitch to playlists that feature indigenous artists and to local radio stations that support reo content. If you have kaumātua endorsement, include a short quote in your pitch. It matters more than you think.

Collaboration checklist before you hit record

1. Have you checked any lines with kaumātua or a fluent speaker
2. Have you agreed payment and credit with contributors and sample owners
3. Is the song aligned with the tikanga of the material you used
4. Does your production leave space for taonga pūoro and for vocal prosody
5. Have you written a short release note that explains the kaupapa

FAQ

Can non Māori use reo Māori in their songs

Yes they can. Use the language respectfully. If the words are from a specific iwi or a mōteatea ask permission first. Work with fluent speakers and kaumātua. Credit and offer payment for cultural knowledge. Remember context matters. Singing a short phrase is often received well when done respectfully. Singing tapu content without permission is not acceptable.

How do I learn correct pronunciation quickly

Listen to native speakers and copy. Use online reo resources and apps. Work with a tutor for two or three sessions to get immediate feedback. Record yourself and compare. Pay attention to vowel length and to where the stress naturally falls. A little coaching goes a long way.

What if I want to sample an old waiata recording

Find out who holds the rights. Libraries and archives may own recordings but the cultural ownership might sit with whānau. Contact both. Get written permission and negotiate fair payment. Be transparent about how the sample will be used. The time spent asking will protect you from reputational damage later.

How can I make my waiata feel contemporary without losing identity

Keep the lyric rooted in whakapapa or local detail. Use modern groove and production techniques but let some elements sit acoustically. Add one signature sound that ties the track to te ao Māori such as a short kōauau phrase or a whakataukī. Less is more. The identity is in details not in forcing a whole genre mask onto the song.

How do I handle feedback from my iwi about a released song

Listen first. If the response is critical, call a meeting with your kaumātua and the critics to understand the harm or misstep. Offer to edit or withdraw the material if necessary. Fixing the relationship is a priority over short term streams. Most issues can be repaired with honesty, apology, and concrete reparative action.

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