New World partners with SIX60 to support Te Reo Māori
Monday 13 September 2021
New World has partnered with Aotearoa’s biggest band, SIX60, to support their first original bilingual track, ‘Pepeha’.
To mark the release of their new Pepeha song, SIX60 have created a Limited Edition collectors’ item booklet, which is being sold through New World stores and online shop. The booklet includes a download of the ‘Pepeha’ song, chords and lyrics so you can learn to play it, each band members’ individual pepeha, plus exclusive photos, designs and a foldout SIX60 poster.
Proceeds from the sale of the booklet will go towards the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre which helps bring accessible music therapy to all people, especially those with special needs.
Head of Marketing & Customer Experience Pippa Prain says “It’s an honour to be able to work with SIX60 to support te reo Māori through this waiata. Pepeha is such an important and relevant song for us as New Zealanders right now. It’s about bringing us together and celebrating the place we are lucky enough to call home.”
“Being 100% New Zealand owned and operated, New World are committed to not only being a part of our communities but uplifting our communities, and we think Pepeha is a real reflection of that idea.”
“We are so excited to share the limited-edition collectors pack with our customers and at the same time be able to support the wonderful work the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre does” finishes Prain.
The bilingual single was inspired by the band’s cultural journey over the last two years. The new anthemic waiata links significant things – prestige, love, and family – with the environment and to our ancestors.
Lead singer Matiu Walters says he was inspired by the response to ‘Kia Mau Ki Tō Ūkaipō’ and the Waiata / Anthems album and wanted to create more music intertwined with te reo. “I wanted to try to write a pepeha for all New Zealanders, whether you were born here, or you moved here and decided to make Aotearoa your home.”
Dame Hinewehi Mohi, founder of the centre and Waiata Anthem Week, says it’s wonderful to have New World on board supporting the project. “Pepeha is a celebration of Aotearoa and our sense of belonging. To have all the proceeds from the exclusive collectors pack going to the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre is amazing. It will help us continue changing lives through music”
“The support from New World is really going to help us make a difference to the lives of people with disabilities and we’re so grateful.”