You Are Us / Aroha Nui, Auckland NZ, 2019

You Are Us / Aroha Nui

13th April 2019
Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Richard Myburgh.

The events of the 15th of March 2019 in Christchurch, New Zealand will forever be etched into the country’s history books for all the wrong reasons. Fifty innocent lives lost, and many more injured, a city’s heart broken once again.

But if it is one thing that New Zealanders are known for, it’s their resilience, their acceptance and their love. And last night at the You Are Us / Aroha Nui benefit concert event (from which all proceeds would be donated to the ‘Our People, Our City’ fund set up by the Christchurch Foundation) that love poured forth from not only the artists on stage but from the audience themselves.

The benefit shows (Christchurch to be held this coming Wednesday on the 17th, also to be broadcast live on THREE with an online live feed on ThreeNow) brought together two of New Zealand’s biggest promoters – Brent Eccles and Mark Kneebone (Eccles Entertainment and Live Nation respectively) – their passion for music and the power it has to heal clear.

Rather appropriately the event was opened with the sound of a Pūtātara echoing across the room and the host for the evening Mike King addressing not only the audience, but more specifically every single “young person” present. His message to stand strong and to always be themselves one that was embraced wholeheartedly. “Be respectful to the past and loving to the future”.

With a song that communicates everything about kiwi culture, Dave Dobbyn performed ‘Welcome Home’ to the sold-out crowd, his request for the audience to stand and light up the room with their phones followed to the letter.

Following a more non-traditional format, the night was a rolling procession of artists, some performing one song, others more, with Mike King filling in the gaps in between as the stage was continually turned over by a tireless and highly efficient stage crew.

The effervescent Bene charmed the crowd with both ‘Tough Guy’ and ‘Soaked’ her presence in the room like a ray of sunshine as she skipped across the stage in green and blue. Followed up by yet another female artist making waves in the local scene, Persian/Kiwi rapper CHAII’s ‘Digebasse (Enough)’ was hypnotic in both sight and sound.

Undoubtedly one of the first big reactions of the night was for Stan Walker; dressed in simple black and accompanied by a full band, Walker’s performance was ethereal as he began with a moving version of ‘Amazing Grace’ before introducing Seth Haapu on keys with whom he executed a stunning bilingual duet of the Crowded House classic ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’, all present wholeheartedly joining in on the chorus. In a show of both national pride and solidarity Walker also led the room through first the Māori and then the English version of ‘God Defend New Zealand’.

Throughout the evening King spoke of his work in Mental Health and schools, his honest admissions of how he too used to be racist due to his ‘programming’ one that was sure to resonate with more than a few. The most integral part of his message being one of love and learning, to grow as a person each and every day and to embrace those around you, regardless of race as your brothers and sisters.

Supported by the beautiful Dilworth Choir, OpShops Jason Kerrison delivered a rendition of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ that took people’s breath away, many gently swaying as his voice rose above their heads.

Representing the hip-hop community with style Ill Baz brought out not one, not two but three exceptional guests, Diggy Dupe bookended by the beautiful Bailey Wiley with her latest single ‘Sugar’ and JessB who brought the heat with her rendition of ‘Take It Down’.

A change in direction came in the form of one of New Zealand’s current rising stars; Mitch James enthralling the fans with four tracks that included ‘21’, ‘Old News’ and a rousing cover of Robbie Williams ‘Angels’ that once again saw the arena lit up with thousand of lights and voices.

Always the crowd pleasers, SWIDT started off on a poignant note as SPYCC (aka Daniel Latu) appeared solo – Jamal on decks – to perform ‘No Emotions in the Wild’ which confronts both the topic of toxic masculinity and the alarming rate of youth suicide within our country. Bringing their own ethos to the table ‘Conquer’ took their short but deeply satisfying set out on a high.

As again Mike King came out to entertain the audience between sets, he was joined by what had to be one of the cutest co-hosts of the night, his five-year-old daughter Charlie quite impressively and very sweetly introducing one of New Zealand’s most popular drum and bass acts Shapeshifter. Led by the one and only Paora ‘P Digsss’ Apera, Shapeshifter set the arena on fire as ‘Stars’ saw the entire crowd on their feet bouncing to the beat while ‘In Colour’ once again brought a message of love and unity that cast it’s net not only over New Zealand and it’s diversity but over the world itself.

Keeping the message of love for our fellow brothers and sisters of the world flowing, Jason Kerrison again returned to the stage – this time solo – to play ‘Love Will Always Win’. Engaging the audience, he soon had the arena singing the chorus at full volume, the words “love will always win” being performed as a round by the floor section and seats, hundreds of people forming the shape of a heart in the air with their hands as they sang. Kerrison’s solo rendition of ‘One Day’ moments later proving just how stunning his voice is as he held the final note with crystal clear clarity.

So much kiwi talent had already graced the stage, yet there was so much left to come that it almost left you giddy; two of New Zealand’s strongest female voices appearing together in the form of Anika Moa and Hollie Smith. Singing her emotional classic ‘Running through the Fire’. Moa then handed the reigns over to Smith who introduced The Mutton Birds’ Don McGlashan to the stage to join them for a beautifully executed version of the Mt Raskil Preservation Society track ‘Bathe in the River’ with support from the Dilworth Choir.

Taking it up a notch Smith remained on stage with the choir before introducing Te Karehana Gardiner-Toi (aka Teeks) to the stage to deliver ‘How Great Thou Art’, the song transforming before the audiences eyes into a gospel style version complete with beat boxing courtesy of one of the rather talented choir members; Smith letting her voice take flight while doubling down on her status as one of New Zealand’s greatest songstresses.

A duo bringing yet another genre to the forefront was that of the charismatic alt country singer Marlon Williams accompanied by Yarra Benders member Dave Kahn on violin, Williams haunting tones giving way to the title track of his sophomore album ‘Make Way for Love’; King later congratulating Williams for keeping music that he grew up with alive and introducing it to a whole new generation.

With just two acts to go, the crowd were beginning to get excited as one of the biggest names on the bill was still yet to make an appearance; pressing in closer their enthusiasm was well rewarded as Six60 took the stage for a triple shot of infectious hits, ‘Vibes’ and ‘Don’t Give It Up’ making way for – as lead vocalist Matiu Walters referred to it with a grin – Six60’s version of NZ’s National Anthem; ‘Don’t Forget Your Roots’ prompting another mass sing along by the crowd who had just moments ago ecstatically applauded Walters for removing his leather jacket to display a white t-shirt with the words ‘Kia Kaha’ and a peace symbol hand painted on the back.

It was hard to believe but the end of the evening had arrived, almost four hours of some of New Zealand’s finest talent both old and new having adorned the stage. But before the final curtain fell Mike King invited a very special guest to the stage; Iklaq Kashari, president of New Zealand’s Muslim Association giving an impassioned speech on how the tragic days events of March 15th have only fortified New Zealand as one. His story of how many of the victims had already forgiven the abhorrent act of violence committed by the perpetrator for he had not had love in his life speaking volumes of the Muslim community as a whole.

Doing the honours once more, Dave Dobbyn accompanied by the ever-lovely Bic Runga gave a touching version of ‘Beside You’ before many of the acts of the evening joined Dobbyn on stage to sing a jubilant version of the iconic 1988 kiwi tune ‘Slice of Heaven’.

Auckland and New Zealand can take great pride in itself, last nights event yet another display of the strength that our citizens both great and small have at their core; our love for our fellow kiwi’s, regardless of age, race or gender only continuing to grow. We are not perfect, but we continue to learn, and that is what is most important.

Me te mātou aroha nui atu.

Were you there at Spark Arena for this uplifting benefit concert? Or are you planning on attending the Christchurch event? Tell us about it in the comments below!