Kaupapa Maori
'Kia kitea te reo, kia rongohia te reo, kia kōrerohia te reo, kia Māori te reo'
This kōrero has set the foundation and kaupapa for Grove Roots founder Noel Woods. We want our langugae to be seen, heard and conversed so that it becomes natural. "Its more than a band, were a production unit, a waka, a culture and way of life, a platform and network for our reo and kaupapa Māori."
From the studio to live performance, from big bands to acoustic. Te reo Māori has always been the focus when 'Grove' (Later Grove Roots) performed and debuted at the Parihaka International Peace Festival 2006. This was followed up with performances at festivals such as Te Rā o te Raukura, Newtown Festival, Te Rā o Waitangi, Cuba Dupa and many others.
2017 seen the release of the self titled album with the first two Grove Roots singles Tau Hou Maori and Te Kura both reaching number one on the official Maori music charts. The band was nominated finalists for six awards at the Waiata Māori Music Awards 2017.
2019 seen the release of the 9 song album WAKA accompanied with four music videos and again nominated finalists for five awards at the Waiata Maori Music Awards 2019.
2020 has seen the release of the new waiata and video for Matariki Tau Hou which featured on the award winning album MARAE, picking up best reo album.
2021 the waka continues with the video release of Atua Māori followed the fourth studio album AWA that features live peformances from the archives.