Latest news from Moana...

Stormy Weather (31 Jul)
We arrived back into NZ a few days back - and its shocking weather here. The sunshine and cobblestones of Prague seem a million miles away. Poor people up north are being flooded once again, houses are collapsing, its terrible.

We had a great tour of Europe but its always good to come home. We returned laden with gifts and chocolates - thanks to those of you who plied us with it! We already miss the beautiful breads and cheeses of Germany, remember the Swiss Fondue cooked for us by our chef friend Steve and so many other things. Watch this space though - a few more gigs coming up...

Bad Aibling (15 Jul)
The name refers to the fact that this town is a spa - full of hot springs, organic health shops and general well being. They contributed to our wellbeing by coming out in full force and being such a delightful audience. Great to catch up with our friends DJ Dett and promoter Harry - gorgeous people. It rained during our stay here but now its calmed down as we head into Munchen for a spot of shopping and a catch up with the de Sullys

The Most Beautiful Place in the Europe... (15 Jul)
...just has to be Brienz and the surrounding districts. Okay, I haven't been to Santorini or the Amalfi Coast yet but this part of Switzerland is breathtakingly gorgeous. Huge mountains, multitudes of waterfalls cascading down the alps into the lakes, the prettiest 'cuckoo-clock like houses, decked out with bright red geraniums...it is truly something out of a fairytale.

We were scheduled to play on the huge patio of a hotel spa overlooking the lake (it looked like how I imagine the view would be from George Clooneys terrace on Lake Como!), but the weather caved in on us so we had to set up inside their dining room - a bit different! But what a lovely initmate night, hosted by the gorgeous Monique and her team of chefs, masseuses and helpful others at the Seehotel Baren. Very special. Our hosts and audiences were very lovely.

Before that, we dined in the alpine home of our chef friend Steve, who cooked us swiss fondue. It was a challenge for our big nightliner to navigate its way on the narrow village roads, but we made it. We almost had a heart attack when the biggest rabbit we have ever seen in our lives, came out from under the dining room table - I dont know which was more scared - the rabbit or Mahuia. I can't help but laugh when I think of him picking it up for photograph - honestly, it was humungous!!!

Now we are back in our beloved Germany, in Bad Aibling where it is pouring! Off to Wolfsburg tomorrow then onto Berlin...

Montreuz Jazz Festival (12 Jul)
This has to be a career highlight - the most prestigious festival in the world, 42 years in the running. Not sure if any other NZ bands have played there, havent heard of any - but we definitely made our mark.

Believe it or not, after the threat of thunderstorms and a ton of rain, we took to the stage last night for our second performance and the skies quietened. The audience loved the band so much that when we finished, we got a call for an encore but knowing there was another band in the wings, I declined. The MC had to go on and inform the people that we weren't returning, that we had finished. They responded by booing!

Far out - what an awesome festival in the most sublime setting, full of beautiful people, smells of exotic food cooking and music everywhere. Roberta Flack was onstage at the same time with David Sanborn and Tower of Power, tonight is Lenny Kravitz and tomorrow is Chaka Khan and Herbie Hancock. Its a feast for those of us greedy for music! Now today, we head off to the home of a Swiss chef who is such a fan of the band, he is cooking us a classic swiss meal - then we go to Brienz where we perform tonight - and get a massage in the morning, all on the shores of a beautiful swiss lake! Not too shabby....

We stayed in the home of the NZ Consul General Mary Anne Compton and her husband Steve - what a wonderful, generous, interesting and hospitable couple. It will be quiet when we leave, no doubt!

We love Germany! (3 Jul)
German people are very cool. Very hospitable and really dedicated. We have performed in the grounds of a castle (Frankfurt), in a cool club (Bonn) and in the Rex Theatre (Wuppertal). Along the way, we have been given chocolates, organic breads, wine, a football - and lots of smiles. At the same time, we are sweltering! It is hot as anything here. Yesterday was 31 degrees! Now we head into the former East Germany to Leipzig...

Trina will put some photos up on the blog later on so scroll below and click on the link.

WHA, New album release by Moana & the Tribe (6 Jun)
(Black Pearl/Ode Records)

"Another diverse, informed and quite moving album....by one of our finest."
- GRAHAM REID (www.elsewhere.co.nz, May)

"Updating and broadening her sound without compromise to the mana of a lifetime lived at one with exquisite and sensual musical warmth and passion." ****
- MARTYN PEPPERALL, (Groove Guide, May)

"It is one record which is really stretching musical boundaries, I think and presenting styles which have a much broader open appeal to a world ear - a more international thing. It is really, really good."
- MANU TAYLOR, (National Radio, June)

"..the mix of traditional Maori sounds, karanga and haka, classical and dub, among many others, come together effortlessly. Te Apo, a militant, haka-driven call to arms is one of the best local songs of the year..." ****
- SCOTT KARA (NZ Herald, June)

Back from Bonn (22 May)
It was a whirlwind trip - we left Auckland on the Saturday, arrived into Frankfurt on the Sunday, played on the Monday and departed from Europe on the Tuesday. We shared the stage with Hugh Masekela and Bob Geldofs bands in front of a 5000 strong audience of delegates to the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity.

Kia ora from Toronto (6 May)
We had a dramatic last night in Toronto getting rescued from an elevator at 4am by 6 burly firemen! Yes, 9 of us were trapped in the elevator - me, Trina and Cadz with about 6 local native Canadians. Our mates are a seriously entertaining bumch - but got really hot and we were in there for over 30 minutes. We had to ring 911. It was so embarassing! They were very nice to us (thought I noticed them counting as we got out of the lift - let that be a warning, people!)

We had a fantastic response to our performance at the Toronto University with real keen and serious interest in us returning to Canada in 2009. Not bad considering it was just the 4 of us. I asked a native American musician John Carlos Perea to play flute on a number of our songs (sounded just as great as Horo) and he did that really amazingly intense indian chanting over the Ancestors outro where the haka usually comes in. It really worked musically and culturally. Just wonderful and a real honour that these musicians performed with us.

Big Thrill (29 Nov)
I joined four other artists who were made Art Laureates recently, a big thrill for me. It was overwhelming as the recipients are chosen without ever knowing that they are being considered. A group of artists and art patrons makes a decision on behalf of the Arts Foundation, an independent Trust set up to support the arts through providing recognition and awards.