Mokomokai Announces The Shardonay Tour + Releases New Album ‘Pono’
Mokomokai announces The Shardonay Tour on the back of their return with Pono, their third studio album. A slow-burning, soul-infused project that captures mood, memory, and truth in nine rich, immersive tracks. Led by Manu, alongside producers
Dusty & Ghos, the group continues to define their own lane with poetic lyricism over lush, atmospheric production rooted in soul and Polynesian influence.
Focus single, The One arrives with a cinematic music video directed by Ray Edwards. Shot between the intimate setting of listening bar Kemuri Hi-Fi and the historic Grey Lynn, the visual immerses viewers in Mokomokai’s carefully crafted universe, where the nostalgic soul of old-school sounds meets the dynamic pulse of inner-city life. It’s a seamless blend of past and present, brought to life through a lens that feels both grounded and visionary.
Pono features collaborations with Lukan Raisey, Ma, Lui Tuiasau, Tyra Hammond, and Mara TK, telling brazen truths and lived experiences.
Following the success of their acclaimed album Whakarehu, which earned a 2025 Aotearoa Music Award nomination for Kupe – Pono marks a new level of artistic maturity. It’s a bold statement: raw, refined, and wholly original. In a crowded landscape, Mokomokai proves that authenticity still resonates, and that growth doesn’t have to compromise edge.
Catch Mokomokai on The Shardonay Tour, with special guest Brandn Shiraz in a city near you.
Tour Dates:
Friday 11th July – Ōtautahi / Christchurch at Loons
Saturday 12th July – Pōneke / Wellington at Meow
Saturday 19th July – Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland at Double Whammy
