TikTok is a welcoming place for all people to share their stories, knowledge, culture and joy - and New Zealand's vibrant Māori community is one that has been doing exactly this.

We're celebrating the creativity and contributions of the Māori community on TikTok with the launch of a dedicated Māori hub. Kicking off during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori Week 2021 (Māori Language Week 2021), the in-app destination will showcase some of the best Māori content and creators on TikTok, in line with our commitment to fostering a positive, diverse community and elevating Māori people and culture.

Art by Eli Taueki, Taane Flanagan, Te Aotahi Rice-Edwards and Hori Mataki

As part of the initiative, we will be spotlighting talented Māori creators who've been nominated by their peers from our TikTok community and showcasing specially curated waiata (songs), including in te reo Māori (the Māori language). You can find our Māori hub on the Discover page in the TikTok app from Monday 13 September, or search for it using hashtags including #māori and #tereo.

The highlight of our launch programming for the Māori hub will be exclusive music performances from some of New Zealand's hottest acts, LIVE on TikTok. Global phenomena and the country's most popular pop-rock band, Six60 will stage an epic livestream from Los Angeles for the special occasion. Internationally acclaimed alt-pop singer-songwriter, Theia, will also be performing an intimate set and providing much needed entertainment for Kiwis still in lockdown. During their performances, the artists will explore their personal and cultural connections to their songs and interact with fans through live Q&As on TikTok. For a chance to get up-close and personal, tune in to the LIVE performances on the artists' TikTok accounts.

Catch the shows LIVE on TikTok:

💡 Spotlight on Māori creators

TikTok's dedicated Māori hub will highlight a diverse range of Māori creators put forward by the Māori community on TikTok, supported by the guidance of cultural consultants, Tātou. Get to know some of our featured creators:

  • @joshkirkley - Astronomy educator by day and TikToker by night. Josh shares his te reo journey; the wins, the challenges, and all the funny bits in-between.
  • @manawahine00 - Let Māori game developer and proud supporter of wāhine (women), Morgana, entertain you while she educates on Māori people and their experiences.
  • @haukatangi_heta - ⁣⁣Sit back and enjoy hilarious content by TikTok success story, Haukatangi, a creator from the Waikato with a knack for impressions that go viral.
  • @paniaofthekeef - Need wardrobe inspiration? Tayi Tibble is an award-winning poet and indigenous writer who makes videos on fashion, beauty, pop culture, colonisation, self-image, and Maoritanga (Māori culture, traditions and way of life).
  • @emmajane.toi - Discover emerging Māori artist, Emma, of Ngati Maniapoto and Ngati Porou descent, who shares her beautiful fine art expressing her cultural ties.

🤳 Curated Waiata playlist to make videos

Head to the Waiata playlist on our Māori hub or the Sounds page on TikTok, to immerse yourself in waiata reo Māori (all in Māori) and waiata reorua (bilingual) tracks. Discover past, present and emerging Aotearoa artists in our playlist which was curated in consultation with Dame Hinewehi Mohi, the creator of the iconic Waiata / Anthems album.

🤝  Working with our Māori community

Inclusivity is at the heart of TikTok, and as part of our commitment to recognising and elevating Māori voices, we consulted and collaborated with the Māori community to help us shape our programming and nominate the creators we're featuring in our Māori hub. We also worked with kaupapa Māori designers, Eli Taueki, Taane Flanagan, Te Aotahi Rice-Edwards and Hori Mataki, from Ōtautahi (Christchurch), to create the striking graphics and artwork for the hub.

Māori creators are making an incredible impact on TikTok and our dedicated hub will shine a spotlight on this amazing community, bringing their culture and creativity to people on TikTok in New Zealand and around the world.

Here is what our people and artists had to say:

"New Zealand is home to so many talented Māori creators and artists, who bring their vibrant personalities and showcase their unique culture to the world on TikTok. We are not only passionate about celebrating and elevating Māori people but also collaborating closely with the community. I'm really looking forward to delving into our Māori hub and learning more about Māori culture." - Lee Hunter, General Manager, TikTok Australia and New Zealand

"Te Reo Māori is unique to New Zealand and our culture is something we love to showcase to the world. It’s been amazing to see the releases by Lorde, Sons of Zion, Niko Walters, Sir Dave Dobbyn and so many other NZ artists - and we hope it inspires other musicians to create in Te Reo as well. We're really looking forward to performing LIVE on TikTok and putting a spotlight on our beautiful culture and language. Our set will include our latest chart-topping single, ‘Pepeha’ which shows our connection to the physical and spiritual place we call home. We hope our performance brings joy and a little piece of NZ to everyone watching." - Matiu Walters, Six60

"Aotearoa is rich with Māori culture and creators and has always been. We as Māori know this - it’s all around us! I am really excited for my LIVE performance on TikTok and can't wait to share more about my culture. I’ll be performing some of the tracks that are on my upcoming TE KAAHU album and I’m going to also sing a famous waiata composed by none other than my great grandmother, Mite Te Aho Karaka Kukutai. It’s a party favourite, so I’m hoping that I’ll get the whānau (family) in their own homes singing along!" - Theia

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Full Waiata playlist:

Six60 - Pepeha 

Paige - Waves / Taiāniwha

Niko Walters - Aroha Kaitangata / Vicious Love

Patea Maori Club - POI E

Louis Baker - Te Utu o te Aroha

TE KAAHU - E Hine Ē

Stan Walker - ‘Tau Te Mārire / Take It Easy’

Muroki - Rehurehu / Wavy 

Mikey Dam - Māu

Troy Kingi - ‘Te Wai Nō Rua Whetū / Aztechknowledgey’

Sons of Zion x Jackson Owens - He Aroha Hinemoa

Huia - 'Marama La Luna / Moon Moon’

Hamo Dell - ‘Ora Ai / Feeling Right’

Goldsmith Baynes - ‘Tīpuna’

Georgia Lines - Tōrere/My Love

Hollie Smith feat. NZSO - ‘Ko Te Hīnātoretanga / Coming in from the Dark’

Kings - Pohewatia

Valkyrie - ‘A Hakamana’

Reuben Fleetwood - So Do You / Haere Ra

IA - ‘Whetū’

Tama Waipara ft. Maisey Rika - Tīaho Iho Rā/East Coast Moon

Diaz Grimm - ‘Te Kore’

Ria Hall - ‘Rangatira / Owner’

Ainslie Allen - Te Ua Ka Moa

Tomorrow People - ‘Rise Up’ 

Rei - Hoki Mai / Come Back

Ka Hao ft. Rob Ruha - ‘35’

Aro - Tohorā

Six60 - Kia Mau Ki Tō Ūkaipō / Don't Forget Your Roots

Bic Runga - Haere Mai Rā / Sway

Drax Project - Tukituki Te Manawa

TEEKS X Hollie Smith - Whakaaria Mai / How Great Thou Art

KATCHAFIRE - 100 / Karawhiua

HOLLIE SMITH / DON McGLASHAN - Bathe in the River / Kōrukutia

MELODOWNZ - Fine / Pai

Shapeshifter - Ngā Kano / In Colour

Benee - Kua Kore He Kupu / Soaked

Tipene ft. Maisey Rika & Troy Kingi – Tūrangawaewae

Anna Coddington ft. Louis Baker - Aho/Beams

Hayley Westenra - Pokarekare Ana

Rob Ruha & whānau - Ka Mānu

Oceania - Kotahitanga

Origin Roots Aotearoa (ORA) - Home/Ūkaipō

Stan Walker - Tēnā Rā Koe / Thank You

ANNIE CRUMMER - Ocean Moon / Hina Ki Tai

Drax Project - I Moeroa / Woke Up Late

Ria Hall - Te Ahi Kai Pō

Maisey Rika - Waitī Waitā

Tui Teka - E Ipo

TEEKS - E Kore Rawa E Wehe / Never Be Apart

Sons Of Zion - Pōtere Ana / Drift Away

Maimoa - Wairua

The Nudge vs Troy Kingi - He Ōrite

BIC RUNGA - There is No Time / Kāore He Wā

Tiki Taane - Kei Tōku Ngākau Nei Koe / Always on My Mind

Moana & the Moahunters - AEIOU

CHE FU - Fade Away / E Kore E Motu

Seth Haapu - Ngaru Hou