Kua Makona

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"Kua Makona"
Kua Makona.jpg
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]

  • Computer Blues – executive producer
  • Moana Maniapoto-Jackson – vocalist
  • Graham Myhre – engineering
  • Dalvanius Prime – co-producer, director, writer
  • Ngamaru Raerino – writer

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

  • Kowhai 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "Kua Makona". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "Moana Maniapoto–Jackson". Tu Tangata. No. 35. 1 April 1987. p. 17. Retrieved 10 December 2021 – via Papers Past.
  7. ^ a b "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 (Casette 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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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