Riqi Harawira Releases ‘E Hara I Te Mea’
Riqi Harawira (Te Aupouri, Ngapuhi) has returned with his new single E Hara I Te Mea – a bold reimagining of an ancient Māori waiata.
Originally composed by Te Aupōuri chief Eru Ihaka (1877–1937), E Hara I Te Mea blends timeless wisdom with contemporary 21st century sounds.
Riqi, inspired by the whakataukī (proverbs) displayed on the walls of the whare kai (dining hall) at Potahi Marae during his uncle Eru Harawira’s recent tangi (funeral) in Te Kao, breathed new life to the hymn by combining rich vocals, modern beats, and guitar – expressing a heartfelt connection to his whakapapa (genealogy) and whenua (land).
The track honours the unique culture of Te Aupōuri and features a sample from the late Kingi Ihaka, a renowned TV presenter and advocate for Te Aupōuri.
E Hara I Te Mea is the first taste of his upcoming album Te Karanga (The Calling), produced by Abraham Kunin and Riqi Harawira and is now available on all platforms.
