Kua Makona

Maniapoto sung in clubs and cover bands, however musician Dalvanius Prime encouraged her to release her own music.[1] The pair first met after one of Prime's concerts, when Maniapoto's ex-husband Willie Jackson approached Prime and introduced Maniapoto to him as a promising musician.[2]

A year later, Prime contacted Maniapoto and asked her to take part in a campaign for the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand, around promoting moderation among Māori.[2] The campaign featured a pop song sung in Te Reo Māori, produced by Prime and Ryan Monga (of Ardijah), which was released as a single under Prime's label Maui Records in 1986.[3]

The song describes a woman's love and despair she feels for a man with a drinking problem, and is a warning on the perils of driving under the influence of alcohol.[4][5][6] The lyrics of the song were written by Ngamaru Raerino, who at the time was the Māori coordinator for Alcohol Advisory Council .[5]

The campaign launched in 1987, featuring a music video (which included an appearance by Hinewehi Mohi),[4][5] and a number of magazine appearances. During this time, Maniapoto was working as a barrister and graphic artist at Kia Mōhio Kia Mārama Trust, and singing at Club 21 on Queen Street with her band Whiteline.[6] Maniapoto was unused to the fashion style that Prime suggested for the magazine and music video appearances, feeling as if he had transformed her into "the Māori Cher".[2] The single began charting on the New Zealand singles chart in May 1987, peaking at number 27 in June.[7] At the 1987 New Zealand Music Awards, "Kua Makona" was nominated for Best Polynesian work, losing to Herbs' "E Papa / Jah Knows". At the same awards ceremony, Maniapoto won the Most Promising Female Vocalist award.[8]

After the formation of her band Moana & the Moa Hunters, the song was revisited in 1993, re-recorded as a pop reggae song and released as a double A-side single with "Peace, Love and Family" before the release of the group's debut album Tahi.[9] The original version of the song was added to the 1996 CD release of the Pātea Māori Club album Poi E.

Credits for the 1986 version adapted from the "Kua Makona" single.[13]

• Computer Blues – executive producer
• Moana Maniapoto-Jackson – vocalist
• Graham Myhre – engineering
• Dalvanius Prime – co-producer, director, writer
• Ngamaru Raerino – writer

Credits for the 1993 version adapted from the "Peace, Love and Family" / "Kua Makona" single.[14]

• Kōwhai Intermediate School – haka
• Angus McNaughton – producer, engineer, programming, mixing
• Moana Maniapoto – lead vocal, additional lyrics
• Dalvanius Prime – writer
• Ngamaru Raerino – writer
• Teremoana Rapley – rap
• Mina Ripia – rap