As part of the strategic partnership between Cardiff University (Wales) and the University of Waikato (New Zealand), musicians in both countries have been collaborating on a new project exploring the Welsh and Māori language punk music scenes, sharing ideas and learning.
Wairehu Grant is a PHD student at the University of Waikato and is writing a thesis on the Māori DIY punk culture and is also one of the participants in the collaboration. He recently appeared on BBC Radio Cymru's 'Recordiau Rhys Mwyn' show to discuss his research, joining Catrin Jones (Cardiff University) who discussed the collaboration further, and Gareth Schott (University of Waikato) who gives us a brief history of the Welsh language punk music scene.
In August, the collaborators also hosted an event at the National Eisteddfod, providing an opportunity to open up the conversation to the Welsh language music scene, including Katie Hall the lead singer of Welsh punk band Chroma, and to connect them with peers in Waikato.
The project will be developed further and more activities will become available over the next year.