Tōku Tuakiri

Rotorua singer and songwriter Nikau Grace's Pākehā colouring meant her Māori identity was never 'visible' to others. She was teased at school and told to take off her taonga. Written at 15 years of age, the mantra of heartfelt bilingual waiata 'Tōkū Tuakiri' (translating to 'My Identity') got Grace "through a lot of hard times". In this video Grace lives up to her stage name, delivering her bilingual waiata proudly while wearing a greenstone taonga. Grace is joined in her soaring chorus by off-screen voices from the Rotorua Accelerando Programme, adding to the song's gospel-fuelled message of inner resolve. 

I was really confused about who I was because people kept telling me I’m not who I am, I’m not Māori because I don’t look it. I’d say (the song) got me through a lot of hard times when I really didn’t know who I am and it’s just my way of telling myself I am who I am and no one else can change that or tell me differently.

– Rotorua singer Nikau Grace on drawing strength from her waiata, The NZ Herald,

Key Cast & Crew

Taine Noble

Director, Editor, Camera Operator

Julia Parnell

Producer

Hinewehi Mohi

Executive Producer

Parehuia Mackay

Production Manager

Breeze O'Connor

Camera Operator

Jason Crane

Camera Operator