Te Vaka

History

Te Vaka is a group of musicians and dancers with origins from various Polynesian backgrounds (including Tokelau, Tuvalu, Samoa and New Zealand) that formed in 1997, under the leadership of award-winning songwriter, Opetaia Foaʻi. That year, they released their eponymous debut album through ARC Music, a UK/European record company. The album gained immediate success and recognition, being distributed to over 80 countries. Their follow-up album, Ki Mua, was released through Warm Earth Records, and went #1 on world music charts and mainstream radio in the South Pacific.

In 2002, the band released their third album, Nukukehe. The album gained the group a nomination in the New Zealand Music Awards and the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music. Their next albums entered the European World Music Charts, as well as winning numerous awards.

Through their career, Te Vaka has performed extensively around the world, performing in London's Royal Festival Hall and Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, as well as headlining music festivals throughout Europe like WOMAD. They have also performed at the APEC ministerial dinners and America's Cup events in Auckland, the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, the Rugby World Cup in Paris and the Olympic Games in Beijing. Te Vaka toured the world extensively performing in 40 countries between 1997 and 2018.

In 2010 and 2011, the band completed two tours in North America. That same year, Te Vaka released their seventh album, Havili.

In 2015, the band was selected by Walt Disney Pictures to contribute to the soundtrack of the 2016 animated film Moana, and later contributed to songs and the soundtrack for its 2024 sequel, Moana 2.

Musical style

Te Vaka uses traditional musical instruments from the Pacific region like pate (single and double log drums), paʻu (indigenous goat skin conga), and bass drums.

Most of their songs are written in the Tokelauan language, reflecting the heritage of band founder, singer, and main songwriter, Opetaia Foaʻi. Foaʻi was born in Western Samoa, to a Tokelauan father and a Tuvaluan mother, and raised in a Tokelauan community in New Zealand. He has said that the inspiration for his music comes from his multi-cultural upbringing. However, some songs are also written in Samoan and Tuvaluan languages, which are the native tongues of most of the other band members.

As a result of this mixture of sounds and diversity of influences, their music has been referred to as "a truly pan-Pacific sound".

Current lineup

• Opetaia Foaʻi: vocals, guitar, percussion
• Olivia Foa'i: vocals, dance
• Matatia Foa'i: percussion
• Sulata Foai-Amiatu: vocals
• Douglas Bernard (a.k.a. D.Burn): vocals, keyboards, percussion
• Joe Toomata: electric guitar, percussion
• Neil Forrest: bass, flute, percussion
• Etueni (Edwin) Pita: dance
• Dave Kuresa: dance

Awards and nominations

|- |Ki Mua |New Zealand Music Awards - International Achievement | |- | | BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music | |- | Te Vaka | BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music - Audience Award | |- | Nukukehe | New Zealand Music Awards - Best Roots Album | |- | Tutuki | New Zealand Music Awards - Best Pacific Music Album | |- | Opetaia Foaʻi | Senior Pacific Artist | |- | Te Vaka | Pacific Music Awards - Best Pacific Band | |- | Olatia | Pacific Music Awards - Best Pacific Album | |- | Te Vaka | Australian Songwriters Association Awards - Best Live Performance of the Night | |- | "Tamahana" | Australian Songwriters Association Awards - International | |- | Haoloto | New Zealand Music Awards | |- | Te Vaka | Pacific Music Awards - Best Pacific Group | |- | Haoloto | Best Pacific Language Album | |- | Haoloto | Hawaiian Music Awards - Polynesian | |- | Havili | Pacific Music Awards | |- |"Lovely World" | ISC Awards - World Music | |- | Amataga | Pacific Music Awards - Best Pacific Album | |- | "Papua I Sisifo" | Pacific Music Awards - Best Pacific Song | In 2008 they won a total of 4 music industry awards – "Best Pacific Group" and "Best Pacific Album" in New Zealand and in the Australian Songwriters Association Awards they took first place in the "International songwriting category" and won "Best Live performance" of the night awarded by the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia.

Discography

Studio albums

• 1997 Te Vaka
• 1999 Ki Mua
• 2002 Nukukehe
• 2004 Tutuki
• 2007 Olatia
• 2009 Haoloto
• 2011 Havili
• 2015 Amataga
• 2017 Te Vaka Beats: Percussion Album Vol. 1
• 2020 Te Vaka Beats Vol. 2
• 2022 Te Vaka Beats Vol. 3

Compilations

• 2017 Greatest Hits: Songs That Inspired Moana

DVDs

• 2003 Live at Apia Park
• 2007 Live in Concert 2006

Singles

• "Lakalaka"

References

References

1. [https://www.pacificmusicawards.org.nz/2008.html pacificmusicawards.org.nz]
2. Lusk, Jon. "Te Vaka". BBC.co.uk.
3. [http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/61/pi_newsitemid/2607 nzmusician.co.nz (Rugby World Cup)] {{webarchive. link. (27 September 2011 Retrieved 28 September 2009.)
4. [https://tevaka.com/te-vaka Te Vaka - About: Te Vaka]Retrieved 31 January 2026
5. Tapaleao, Vaimoana. (2015-08-17). "NZ-based group joins next big Disney movie". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
6. [https://www.thewrap.com/moana-2-songs-soundtrack-list/ Here Are All the Songs in the ‘Moana 2’ Soundtrack]Retrieved 24 January 2026
7. [https://www.oreateai.com/blog/exploring-the-enchanting-soundtrack-of-moana-2/0dac8163f5410203a1057d8a9b650494 Exploring the Enchanting Soundtrack of Moana 2]Retrieved 24 January 2026
8. [https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/nesia-daily/nesia-daily/105109484 Go behind the scenes of the music video for Te Vaka's version of We're Back from Moana 2]Retrieved 26 January 2026
9. [http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/61/pi_newsitemid/2845 nzmusician.co.nz (NZ Awards)]. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
10. [http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/61/pi_newsitemid/2911 nzmusician.co.nz (AUS Awards)]. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
11. [https://www.rootsworld.com/reviews/tevaka-23.shtml?fbclid=IwAR0fRMCu-XI1gSGb5vR Te Vaka Beats Vol.3: Spirit of Play Productions].Retrieved 24 January 2026.
12. [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000UWUBNY amazon.co.uk]. Retrieved 30 September 2009.