Nikau Grace

Nikau Grace is an 18-year-old singer-songwriter from Kawerau, of Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, and Te Arawa descent. Known for her expressive voice, four octave range, and kaupapa-driven songwriting, she blends contemporary pop with te reo Māori and powerful storytelling rooted in identity, whenua, and legacy.

With support from Waiata Anthems, Nikau released He Aha Te Aha in 2025 to honour the 28th Māori Battalion. The waiata marked the first ANZAC Day with no surviving member of the Battalion. Co-written by Nikau, Kings, and Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod, and produced by Kings, it was inspired by the kōrero of Sir Bom Gillies, the Battalion’s last surviving soldier, who spoke frankly about war being a waste. The soldiers hoped to return to a better future, but that vision still demands action. 80 years later, te reo and Māori rights are facing some of the most significant political pressure of our time. He Aha Te Aha stands as both a tribute and a challenge – calling this generation to pick up the kaupapa and carry it forward.

After winning the 2025 Te Matatini title with a bracket dedicated to Sir Bom Gillies, Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue, from Ōhinemutu, Rotorua, were a natural and powerful extension of this tribute. Their voices brought immense mana, wairua, and whakapapa to the waiata, grounding it in a living expression of kaupapa Māori. Their presence also acknowledged their own deep connection to the Battalion and its legacy of service, sacrifice, and hope carried within their rohe

In 2025, Nikau completed Te Tohu Paetahi, a full immersion te reo Māori diploma through the University of Waikato. Her work continues to honour those who came before her – and speak boldly to those yet to come.