on waiata, te reo and healing through art
I have five tamariki with my beautiful wife who has been the backbone to my musical endeavours and achievements. We live in the tribal territories of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui as active contributors to our hapū and our whānau speak Māori as a first language.
Kapa haka will always be my first musical love and will forever be acknowledged by me as the mothership of Māori music. I have been writing waiata for kapa haka since I was 12, and in 2013 I was encouraged to pursue a solo career in music. In 2014, I released my first waiata ‘Pōnga rā’ and have been releasing music ever since as both solo artist and kapa haka composer. I am a weaver in development, a painter and a tohunga of the Ringatū faith.
Link to video and article: Rob Ruha on waiata, te reo and healing through art | Stuff.co.nz
