E Tū Whānau Song Competition

This banner graphic reads: E Tū Whānau Song Competition 2024 "My whānau my future." It also shows two logos. On the left is the E Tū Whānau logo, name, and tagline saying "Te mana kaha o te whānau." On the right is the the Māori Media Network conch shell shaped graphic and tagline which reads "Te Honongo Whakapaoho Māori Māori Media Network."

The E Tū Whānau Song Competition has finished. Congratulations to everyone who entered, and especially to this year’s prize winners.

Kua takoto te manuka,

Kua kawea ake koe te wero,

Kua whakaihuwaka koe, kua toa.

The leaves of the manuka tree have been laid down,

You accepted the challenge,

Your nose is in the clear, you have won.

The winners

Open Category

  • 1st – Hine me te rā by Anatipa Te Hā o Hinehopu (Rongomaiwahine, Rakaipaaka, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Arawa, Ngāi te Rangi) of Nūhaka. Kaitautoko – Tārei Hāpuku, Taisha Tari. Audio Engineer Christian Mausia.
  • 2nd – Poipoia te kākano by Tōmuri Spicer (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa) of St Kilda, Dunedin.
  • 3rd – I pray by Ngatai Waretini (Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāpuhi) of Poroporo.
  • Highly Commended  – A father’s love by Kahu Turner-Houkamau (Ngāti Porou) of Rotorua.
  • Highly Commended – Kia tata iho mai rā by Rāwiri Gilgen (Tainui, Waikato) of Tokomaru Bay.

Rangatahi Category     

  • 1st – Ka ao ka awatea (Things get better) by Tyree Wall (Ngāti Tutemohuta, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) of Richmond Heights, Taupō.
  • 2nd – Kāinga by Te Kani a Takirau Porter (Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Porou) of Gisborne.
  • 3rd – Ngā piki ngā heke by Waiariki Gear (Ngāti Awa) of Te Puna, Bay of Plenty. Performed, written and composed by Te Whei Ao Harris, Tuara Rahiri, Waiariki Gear, Maria Williams.
  • Highly Commended – Nōku te ki, nōku te ao by Karly-Jewel and Rawinia Gordon (Ngāriki Kaiputahi, Ngāti Uepōhatu) of Elgin, Gisborne.
  • Highly Commended – Hinepukohurangi by Te Aniwaniwa Hori-Temara (Tūhoe) of Lower Hutt, Wellington. Composed by Snow Chase.

People’s Choice Award

  • Soldier on by by Devonjay Eke (Tonga) of Otara, Auckland.
View all entries in the 2024 competition gallery

The Open and Rangatahi categories of the E Tū Whānau Song Competition 2024 were judged by renowned, award-winning musicians Maisey Rika, Pere Wihongi, and Tawaroa Kawana.

Pere Wihongi

Pere Wihongi

Maisey Rika Waka, one of the judges in the Song Competition 2024

Maisey Rika Waka, one of the judges in the Song Competition 2024

Tawaroa Kawana, the third judge of this year's event.

Tawaroa Kawana, the third judge of this year’s event.

The E Tū Whānau Song Competition 2024 was run by Māori Media Network in conjunction with iwi radio and E Tū Whānau.