By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 16: Celebrated Māori artist Rob Ruha will bring his distinctive “haka soul” music to Sarawak as he headlines a special performance at the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2025 on June 21, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-New Zealand dialogue relations.
Ruha, a multi-award-winning musician of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Ngāti Porou descent, is known for blending traditional Māori performance elements with contemporary genres such as R&B, soul and reggae. His lyrics are predominantly written in Te Reo Māori and explore powerful themes of cultural identity, empowerment, love and hope.
“This is my first time in Sarawak, and I am excited to visit. I will be performing a couple of new songs and a special performance exclusively for this festival, which will include elements of kapa haka.
“I’m really looking forward to soaking up the environment, being inspired by the other artists, meeting the locals, and eating Sarawakian food!” said Ruha in a press release issued by the New Zealand High Commission in Kuala Lumpur today.
Ruha’s appearance at RWMF is supported by the High Commission as part of a broader cultural diplomacy initiative by the New Zealand Government to celebrate 50 years of partnership with ASEAN, which coincides with Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN this year.
New Zealand High Commissioner to Malaysia, H.E. Michael Walsh, said there is growing interest in Māori culture and performing arts in Malaysia, particularly the haka, making Ruha’s visit especially meaningful.
“Fifty years of dialogue relations is a milestone to be celebrated, and a time to highlight our legacy of partnership as we chart a course together for the next 50 years.
“Malaysia has always been a strong supporter of New Zealand’s ties with ASEAN, so we are delighted to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of ASEAN-New Zealand relations under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship,” he said.
Ruha’s musical career includes numerous accolades, including Best Māori Album, Best Soul/R&B Artist, and Best Worship Album at the Aotearoa Music Awards. He has also made significant contributions to Māori youth music, including mentoring the choir Ka Hao, whose 2021 song “35” went viral on TikTok.
He also served as the musical director for the Māori language versions of Disney hits such as Moana, Frozen, Coco and The Lion King.
In addition to his performance at RWMF, Ruha will also speak at the Rainforest Youth Summit, taking place from June 18 to 20. — DayakDaily
