The powerful lead single from MOKOTRON’s new album, WAEREA, “ŌHĀKĪ” has already caught the attention of the New Zealand music world — not only for its brooding beats and haunting melodies but also for its powerful commentary on colonisation and the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights in Aotearoa.
“ŌHĀKĪ,” which roughly translates to “deathbed speech,” serves as a profound reflection on the legacy of the British Crown and its failure to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the treaty signed between Māori chiefs and the British Crown in 1840.
MOKOTRON, a Tāmaki-based Māori producer from Ngāti Hine, draws on their ancestral heritage, channeling the spirit of their ancestor Kawiti, who prophesied that his descendants would rise up when the time was right. The song challenges the British Crown to finally return stolen lands, a responsibility that now falls to King Charles following the death of Queen Elizabeth.
“‘ŌHĀKĪ’ was written in response to the death of Queen Elizabeth,” MOKOTRON explains. “Our stolen lands are still held in her name. Now that she has died, who will take responsibility for returning these lands to us? King Charles? I spent my life waiting for a sign that one of them might uphold the agreement reached between my ancestor Kawiti and their ancestor Victoria. Will my children now wait for a freedom that never comes?”
The track itself is a masterclass in Indigenous electronic music, blending brooding breakbeats with the plaintive sounds of traditional Māori instruments like the koauau and purerehua. MOKOTRON’s meticulous attention to detail is evident throughout, from the deep textures of the throat singing to the pulsating sub-frequencies that echo the song’s themes of resistance and hope.
Accompanying the single is a visually arresting music video created in collaboration with animator Simon Ward and visual artist James Paratii Lainchbury, with support from NZ On Air Music.
The clip is a striking blend of whakairo (Māori carving), horror, and ancient futurism, perfectly capturing the essence of MOKOTRON’s music. “It looks how my music sounds,” MOKOTRON says, highlighting the synergy between the visuals and the soundscapes they create. “Paratii’s art has become as much a part of the MOKOTRON project as the music is, so it’s exciting there will now be a third aspect to the project – animation.”
Lainchbury, who has been a long-time collaborator with MOKOTRON, describes the video as a powerful representation of the emerging postcolonial Indigenous electronic music scene in Aotearoa. “I am attempting to visually create an identity for MOKOTRON, the entity, which has similar mana, a kaitiaki from the past for the future, or from the future for the past.”
For Ward, the project was both a challenge and a privilege. “The video for ‘ŌHĀKĪ’ was a bit daunting at first ’cause I was the outsider coming into MOKOTRON and James’ long running collaboration through illustration and design,” he admits. “Luckily James and I shared a love for 70s/80s British, politically-charged, sci-fi comics, which was a very easy common ground to lean into.”
The result is a music video that feels like a natural extension of MOKOTRON’s vision, bringing the world they’ve created to life in a way that is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant. “This is the kind of video I always dreamt of making,” MOKOTRON reflects. “This captures the vision. Paratii and Simon have done an amazing job of bringing this MOKOTRON world to life.”
As the first single from WAEREA, “ŌHĀKĪ” sets the stage for what promises to be a groundbreaking album, one that challenges the listener to confront uncomfortable truths while also offering a vision of hope and resilience. With its powerful message, innovative production, and stunning visuals, MOKOTRON’s latest work is not just a piece of music — it’s a statement.
MOKOTRON’s “ŌHĀKĪ” is out now. WAEREA is out December 5th via Sunreturn (pre-order here).
