Aotearoa’s own Te KuraHuia is stepping into Mahuru Māori with a single that feels bigger than music. Toitū te Tiriti is pitched as a hīkoi anthem, a track that moves with the heartbeat of the people, created to bring communities together under the protection of aroha.

Raised by her kaumātua as a whāngai, Te KuraHuia’s journey has been shaped by hardship and healing. Now, as director of Taniwha Studios, she channels that lived experience into creating safe spaces for rangatahi Māori, places where storytelling, creativity, and unapologetic self-expression can thrive.

Her mission is clear: to be the tuakana she once needed. “Growing up I always wanted a Tuakana who cared about me, so I aim to be the best Tuakana my teina deserve. We have each other, our very own whānau and support system. Home away from home,” she shares.

That ethos runs deep through Toitū te Tiriti. It is more than a song to bop along to. It is a rhythm of resilience, a reminder of whakapapa, and an open call to stand together. The track’s release marks another step in Te KuraHuia’s rise, with her theatre projects, live band Afterparty, and a Splore festival slot already setting the stage for bigger things ahead.

She is also teasing her first album Taniwha, a project that honours the kaitiaki who guide her through life. “Taniwha are everywhere. Acknowledging all whakapapa connections is a part of knowing who you are,” she explains.

With Toitū te Tiriti, Te KuraHuia plants a flag firmly in the ground. It is protest and celebration, aroha and fire, a soundtrack for every hīkoi to come.