Geneva AM And Binge Culture Launch Immersive Audio Experience Honouring Waiata Māori Through Innovative Tech Platform

As part of this year’s Matariki Festival, acclaimed artist Geneva AM (Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Aitutaki, Palmerston) and experimental performance collective Binge Culture unveils a powerful new collaboration that blends treasure hunts, technology, and taonga in a unique, self-guided experience on Tāmaki Makaurau's waterfront.

Anchored in the Matariki themes of reflection, remembrance, and renewal, the experience embodies the whakataukī “Ka mua, ka muri”—walking backwards into the future, Miki Rapu Waiata: Taonga, invites the public on an app-led interactive audio journey beginning at a pavilion in the middle of Te Komititanga.

Using their devices and headphones, participants follow directions and discover clues to uncover rare archival recordings of iconic waiata Māori - including performances by Hirini Melbourne and Ana Hato - alongside bold contemporary covers from Geneva AM’s upcoming album, Pikipiki.

This project marks a landmark moment in the evolution of the locally-developed PickPath platform. Geneva AM was one of the first partnerships that helped shape the app's creative potential. Says Joel Baxendale, Binge Culture Creative Director:

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"When we first introduced Geneva to PickPath she took to the platform like a duck to water. It’s been a pleasure to help develop this project, which was an early idea and experiment, into something so expansive and truly quite moving."

People can take part by going to Te Komititanga anytime in the next four weeks and scanning the QR code in the pavilion. The experience can be accessed either via the PickPath app or web browser.

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