Ms Betty-Anne Monga, MNZM, of Auckland, for services to music
Betty-Anne Monga (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngaiterangi, Tainui, Tūwharetoa) is a musician and producer with Ardijah, which formed in 1979 and developed their unique ‘poly-fonk’ sound – a blend of Polynesian sounds with funk and R&B. Ardijah pioneered mainstream popularity of Polynesian music in New Zealand, achieving six top 20 singles and albums reaching Top Ten chart status. The band performs regularly at festivals and has toured internationally and received numerous awards. Ms Monga has helped raise the profile of young and emerging artists, supported fundraising causes, and supported and performed at the ‘Vax My Waka’ event during the COVID-19 pandemic.