"Kua Makona"
Single by Moana
from the album Tahi
LanguageMāori
Released1986 (1986)
Genre
Length2:50
LabelMaui Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dalvanius Prime
Moana singles chronology
"Kua Makona"
(1986)		 "Pupurutia"
(1989)
Moana & the Moa Hunters singles chronology
"A.E.I.O.U."
(1991)		 "Peace, Love and Family" / "Kua Makona"
(1993)		 "I'll Be the One" / "Rebel in Me"
(1993)
Music video
"Kua Makona" at NZ On Screen

"Kua Makona" (English: "Isn't That Enough"), is the debut single from Moana Maniapoto. Produced by Dalvanius Prime and sung in the Māori language, the song was used in a campaign for the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand. In 1993, the song was re-recorded as a pop-reggae version entitled "Kua Makona (Kori Kori Tinana Mix)", released as a single by Maniapoto's group Moana & the Moa Hunters. This version was later included on their debut album Tahi (1993).

Background and composition

Maniapoto sung in clubs and cover bands, however musician Dalvanius Prime encouraged her to release her own music.[1] The pair first met after one of Prime's concerts, when Maniapoto's ex-husband Willie Jackson approached Prime and introduced Maniapoto to him as a promising musician.[2]

A year later, Prime contacted Maniapoto and asked her to take part in a campaign for the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand, around promoting moderation among Māori.[2] The campaign featured a pop song sung in Te Reo Māori, produced by Prime and Ryan Monga (of Ardijah), which was released as a single under Prime's label Maui Records in 1986.[3]

The song describes a woman's love and despair she feels for a man with a drinking problem, and is a warning on the perils of driving under the influence of alcohol.[4][5][6] The lyrics of the song were written by Ngamaru Raerino, who at the time was the Māori coordinator for Alcohol Advisory Council .[5]

The campaign launched in 1987, featuring a music video (which included an appearance by Hinewehi Mohi),[4][5] and a number of magazine appearances. During this time, Maniapoto was working as a barrister and graphic artist at Kia Mōhio Kia Mārama Trust, and singing at Club 21 on Queen Street with her band Whiteline.[6] Maniapoto was unused to the fashion style that Prime suggested for the magazine and music video appearances, feeling as if he had transformed her into "the Māori Cher".[2] The single began charting on the New Zealand singles chart in May 1987, peaking at number 27 in June.[7] At the 1987 New Zealand Music Awards, "Kua Makona" was nominated for Best Polynesian work, losing to Herbs' "E Papa / Jah Knows". At the same awards ceremony, Maniapoto won the Most Promising Female Vocalist award.[8]

After the formation of her band Moana & the Moa Hunters, the song was revisited in 1993, re-recorded as a pop reggae song and released as a double A-side single with "Peace, Love and Family" before the release of the group's debut album Tahi.[9] The original version of the song was added to the 1996 CD release of the Pātea Māori Club album Poi E.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits for the 1986 version adapted from the "Kua Makona" single.[13]

Credits for the 1993 version adapted from the "Peace, Love and Family" / "Kua Makona" single.[14]

  • Kōwhai Intermediate School – haka
  • Angus McNaughton – producer, engineer, programming, mixing
  • Moana Maniapoto – lead vocal, additional lyrics
  • Dalvanius Prime – writer
  • Ngamaru Raerino – writer
  • Teremoana Rapley – rap
  • Mina Ripia – rap

Charts

Chart (1987) Peak
position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] 27
Chart (1993) Peak
position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] 23

References

  1. ↑ Hayden, Leonie (8 June 2019). "The wonderful world of Moana Maniapoto". The Spinoff. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Maniapoto, Moana (23 July 2016). "Dalvanius — no one-hit wonder". eTangata. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  3. ↑ Bourke, Chris (28 September 2016). "Moana Maniapoto". Audio Culture. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Kua Makona". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Paratoki-Lewis, May; Gilmour, Cath (1 April 1987). "The mix has not been magic". Tu Tangata. No. 35. p. 14. Retrieved 10 December 2021 – via Papers Past.
  6. 1 2 "Moana Maniapoto–Jackson". Tu Tangata. No. 35. 1 April 1987. p. 17. Retrieved 10 December 2021 – via Papers Past.
  7. 1 2 "MOANA & THE MOAHUNTERS – Kua Makona". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  8. ↑ "Awards 1987". Listing. NZ Music Awards. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  9. ↑ "Moana and the Moa Hunters win Independent Music NZ Classic Record award". New Zealand Herald. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  10. ↑ Kua Makona (booklet). Moana. Maui Records, WEA Records NZ. 1986. MAUI 10.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ↑ Kua Makona (Cassette Single liner notes). Moana. Maui Records. 1986. MAUIEP11.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ Kua Makona (Cassette Single liner notes). Moana. Maui Records. 1986. MAUIEPC11.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. 1 2 Kua Makona (booklet). Moana. Maui Records, WEA Records NZ. 1986. MAUI 12.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. 1 2 Peace, Love and Family / Kua Makona (booklet). Moana & the Moa Hunters. Southside Records. 1993. D11394.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ↑ "MOANA & THE MOAHUNTERS – Peace, Love & Family". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
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