Ria Hall


Born and raised in Maungatapu, Tauranga, bilingual singer Ria Hall used her hometown’s history as inspiration for her powerful debut album, Rules of Engagement. The title came from a letter that Henare Taratoa (Ngāi Te Rangi) sent in 1864 to the first Governor of New Zealand, Sir George Grey, outlining a code of conduct for The Battle of Gate Pā (Pukehinahina) – a key battle of the New Zealand Wars. Both political and personal, the 2017 album established Hall as one of the most thoughtful voices in New Zealand music.

As a student at Tauranga Girls’  College, Hall listened to Che Fu’s groundbreaking album 2b S.Pacific over and over again while studying for exams. “2b S.Pacific changed the entire hip-hop, soul and R&B scene in New Zealand,” she remembers. “It was such a necessary record at the time. I just found it really inspiring that he was Māori/Niuean and representing unashamedly what was possible in the New Zealand music scene for someone of a Polynesian persuasion.”

Stan Walker feat. Ria Hall - Like It's Over (2013)
Ria Hall, APRA Silver Scroll Awards, 2018.
Photo credit: Michael Flynn photography
Ria Hall - Love Will Lead Us Home
Ria Hall.
Photo credit: Jess Dewsnap
Ria Hall - They Come Marching
Ria Hall's Manawa Wera album (Loop, 2020)
Ria Hall.
Photo credit: Jess Dewsnap
Ria Hall - Tell Me Feat. Che Fu
Ria Hall.
Photo credit: Jess Dewsnap
Ria Hall and the Modern Māori Quartet perform Ten Guitars at the 2016 Matariki Awards
Ria Hall.
Photo credit: Jess Dewsnap
Fly My Pretties in Picton, 2019. From left: LA Mitchell, Mel Parsons, A Girl Named Mo, Anna Coddington, Ria Hall, and Hollie Smith. 
Ria Hall - Black Light Ft Mara TK
Ria Hall - Best of Me (2012)
Stan Walker, Ria Hall, Troy Kingi, Maisey Rika - Aotearoa (2014)
Ria Hall - Te Ahi Kai Pō
'Stay' - Tūtahi video with Anna Coddington, Ria Hall, Tiki Taane and others (2020)
Ria Hall, APRA Silver Scroll Awards, 2018.
Photo credit: Michael Flynn photography

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