Sarah Owen (Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou) has spent much of her life immersed in the music industry, following in the footsteps of her Mum while building a respected path of her own. She spent nearly ten years leading the Aotearoa Music Awards at Recorded Music NZ, including guiding the awards through their significant rebrand.

Sarah is now Kairangaranga for Ka Korokī Ka Maranga | Māori Music Industry Collective, where she works to advance the growth, visibility, and long-term support of Māori in the music industry. Her work is grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and centred on strengthening connections, advocacy, and opportunity for her hapori puoro.

Dr. Eugene Fuimaono (Ngapuhi, Ngaiterangi) is a musician by birth, coming from a musical whānau based in Wellington. Having been raised in and played in the Wellington music scene for many years, then moving to Auckland to immerse himself in te reo Māori, his passion for elevating te reo Māori through the medium of music was ignited. It is outworked through being the Musical Director for MOHI, Jordyn With A Why, and now HOPE. When he isn't leading bands, he is a debater of music with his wife HOPE, a father of two, an academic in de-colonization, and occasional talker to the dead.  

Growing up in the suburban-scapes of South Auckland, Jordyn has quickly impacted the Aotearoa music scene with her bilingual (Māori and English) soulful sounds. Descending from Whāingaroa, Mulifanua Lalovi, Falelatai and Vaimoso, the stories are woven throughout her music.  Audiences have praised Jordyn’s stage presence and dynamic, nestling into the soulful vibes somewhere between R&B and neo-soul with the occasional pop bend. Jordyn’s ‘why’ is in and through her music - she tells the stories of language reclamation, identity and cultural heritage.

From the vibrant streets and soundscape of Henderson, West Auckland, award-winning Māori artist MOHI is a once-in-a-generation talent. His music masterfully weaves Te Reo Māori and traditional Māori storytelling with English lyrics and urban influences, creating a sound that is both deeply rooted and forward-thinking.