SIX60 reveal the beautiful new Te Reo meaning behind their hit song

SIX60 - along with several other Kiwi musicians - celebrated Māori Language Week by releasing a special Te Reo version of their hit song Don't Forget Your Roots.

Band members Matiu Walters and Marlon Gerbes revealed to Laura, Sam and Toni that the song - now titled Kia Mau Ki Tō Ūkaipō - actually possess a beautiful new meaning after being translated from English to Te Reo Māori.

"There was a slight translation difference," Marlon explained. "Instead of 'not forgetting your roots' it was 'take who you are and where you’re from with you if you go away'".

"The experience was pretty layered for us because the song was really our first introduction to the world so it has a history in that too," Matiu added.

"Having gone around the world and having that time together as a band to turn to a song like that and reimagine it in Māori and the challenges it had for us was just a cool full circle and almost the beginning of the next phase for us."

On Instagram, SIX60 encouraged their fans to learn the te reo lyrics to their song because they will be performing it live at their upcoming Western Springs concert.

"To honour Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori we want to challenge everyone to learn a Te Reo song,” the wrote alongside the lyrics. "Share this with your whanau, friends and teachers, to pass on our culture to the next generation."

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