WAI

WAI is a Porirua-based family Māori electronica roots band that has been in existence for over 25 years. WAI performs entirely in Te Reo Māori with the poi at the forefront, creating the rhythmic skeleton, which in turn is cloaked in electronica. In 1999, they produced their first album, WAI 100% in memory of Mina’s pāpā, Ture Tangata. In 2010, they released their second album, WAI ORA, inspired by the birth of their beautiful son and becoming parents. They have been very fortunate to have toured extensively throughout the United Kingdom, USA, Germany, Norway, Canada, Channel Islands, China, South Korea, Spain, France, and Australia. In 2007, whilst on tour in Taiwan, they found out they were about to become parents. In 2013, at age 4, their son Uta Te Whanga joined the WAI family and played his cajón on his first international tour to Belgium and Copenhagen. Now 16 years young, Uta Te Whanga has since toured Seattle, Jeonju, Seoul, South Korea, Yilan, Taipei, Taiwan, Charlottesville, Virginia, Colorado Springs, and was very excited to be heading to the Island of Borneo, Kuching, Sarawak, in July 2019 to take part in the Rainforest World Music Festival. At the core of the WAI family are Mina & Maaka Phat and their son Uta Te Whanga, and, if available, they invite their brothers Maaka Fiso and Tuari Dawson to join them.