TAWAZ is a leading force in Māori music, a singer-songwriter, a master of harmonies, and a mātanga reo who is reshaping the sound of Aotearoa. A proud graduate of Kōhanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa Māori, and Te Panekiretanga o te Reo (The Institute of Excellence in the Māori Language), TAWAZ carries the weight of deep cultural knowledge and linguistic mastery into every lyric and performance.
Beyond the stage, TAWAZ is driven by kaupapa, committed to uplifting the next generation of Māori artists, singers, and songwriters. Through his music and mentorship, he’s not just preserving te reo Māori, he’s pushing it into new spaces, with heart, power, and purpose.
Widely regarded as one of the top Māori artists and reo experts in the music industry today, his recent single Mānawa Maiea Matariki has quickly become an anthem for the Māori New Year, or Aotearoa New Year, a celebration of identity and whakapapa woven into melody.
In 2024, TAWAZ was honoured with the prestigious Mana Reo Award and Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau (Best Māori Artist) at the Aotearoa Music Awards. At the 2025 Waiata Māori Music Awards TAWAZ took home another two wins, with best song by a Māori Artist and radio airplay song of the year (Te Reo Māori), solidifying his place as a leader and innovator in Aotearoa music.
TAWAZ has multiple songs that have reached #1 on the charts and he continues to create Māori music that resonates not only with Māori but with all people of Aotearoa and across the world.
