Rob Ruha accepts the Maioha Award at the 2020 Silver Scrolls

Distinguished East Coast musician Rob Ruha has been presented with the APRA Maioha Award, which recognises exceptional waiata featuring te reo Māori. He was celebrated for his song ‘Ka Mānu’, a song he wrote in support of those protecting Ihumātao, and to highlight the oppression of indigenous people around the world.
He congratulated his fellow nominees, saying the Māori language, culture and ethos were the ultimate winners: “I look forward to the day when we don’t have to write songs to lift our people out of oppression, systemic racism, and all the things that keep us below where we deserve to be, which is on equal par with everyone in the world.”
Rob (Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Rongowhakaata, Tainui, Te Arawa, Ngā Ariki-kaipūtahi, Ngā Puhi) has been a finalist multiple times, winning the Maioha Award first in 2014 for ‘Tiki Tapu’, and again in 2016 for ‘Kariri’.
‘Ka Mānu’ speaks of unity and peaceful resistance and in that spirit, brings together musicians from across Aotearoa for a stirring performance full of aroha and hope.

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Rob Ruha the voice of our ancestors