Photo: Supplied

Fast-rising Māori roots reggae artist Ngatainui Ratu, known by his stage name TAWHAKI, says his music is about turning inherited trauma into something positive - and encourages rangatahi Māori to believe in a future they may not yet be able to see.

Named Emerging Artist under 25 (Te Tohu Kaipūoro Rangatahi Hou) at the 2025 Māori Music Awards, the 20-year-old is quickly becoming one of the standout voices of new generation of musicians in Aotearoa.

His tracks 'The Valleys' and 'Roaming' have gone viral across social media, placing him among a growing wave of rangatahi gaining momentum alongside artists such as Te Wehi and Hori Shaw.

While his songs have found a wide audience online, TAWHAKI said their success was never something he anticipated.

"I didn't expect it to blow up as much as it did," he told RNZ.

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