Profile Text
Birth Name: Moana Maree Maniapoto
Place of Birth: Invercargill, South Island, New Zealand
Date of Birth: 22 June, 1961
Ethnicity: * father – Māori, as well as small amount of Scottish * mother – English, Irish, distant Scottish and European Royal
Moana, also known by her full name Moana Maniapoto, is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, documentary maker, and current affairs presenter. She has been a member of the bands Moana and the Moahunters (1991–1998) and Moana & the Tribe (2002-).
Moana is the daughter of Bernadette Maniapoto (née Honywood) and Nepia Tauri Maniapoto. She is affiliated with Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa (Ngāti Pikiao), and Tūhourangi. Moana is a niece of New Zealand rugby union player Manukapua (Manu) Maniapoto. Her cousin, Max Mariu, was Auxiliary Bishop of Hamilton, New Zealand, from 1988 to 2005, and was the first Māori to be ordained a Catholic bishop.
She has a son, journalist Hikurangi Jackson, with her former husband, New Zealand politician and radio personality Willie Jackson ; and a daughter with her partner and bandmate Toby Mills. She was known as Moana Maniapoto-Jackson during her marriage to Willie.
Moana’s paternal grandfather was Hema Maniapoto (the son of Tawhirau Maniapoto, of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, and Te Wakahuia/Waka Huia Paerata). Tawhirau was born in Waitetoko, Taupo, the son of Te Hina Wiremu Maniapoto Te Rahui and Mīria Te Hina Te Tauria. Te Wakahuia was born in Hawkes Bay, the daughter of Te Tini Te Paerata, the son of Hitiri Paerata chief of Ngāti Raukawa; and of Ngahira Ngapeeti Hamilton.
Moana’s paternal grandmother was Mamaeroa Hamiora (the daughter of Pohiri Hamiora, of Ngāti Wahiao, Tūhourangi, and Kaihau Te Pere, of Ngāti Pikiao, Te Arawa). Mamaeroa was born in Pikirangi, Rotorua, New Zealand. Pohiri was born in Auckland, the son of Heremaia Hamiora and Rangikahuawe. Kaihau was born in Rotoiti, the daughter of Te Pere Whanarere and Ngareihi Ngawai.
Moana’s maternal grandfather was Thomas Guy Honywood (the son of Guy Honywood and Margaret Bennett Adamson). Moana’s great-grandfather Guy was the son of English parents, Sir Courtenay Honywood, 7th Baronet of Evington, Kent, and Annie Maria Paynter, from Surrey. Moana’s great-grandmother Margaret was the daughter of Alexander Thomas Adamson and Maria Hood/Wood Barnhill.
Sir Courtenay Honywood was the son of Sir John Edward Honywood, 6th Baronet, and of Mary Hughes-Hallett, the daughter of Reverend Charles Hughes-Hallett and Frances Anne Knatchbull. Sir John was the son of Sir John Courtenay Honywood, 5th Baronet Honywood, of Evington, and of Mary Anne Cooper, the daughter of The Rev. William Cooper. Sir John’s parents were first cousins. He was a descendant of Reynold/Reginald II de Courtenay, Seigneur de Courtenay, who was born in Courtenay, France, c. 1140. Moana’s ancestor Sir William Honywood was a member of the English House of Commons in the 17th century. Through her Honywood line, Moana is a distant cousin to Samuel Honywood, an actor known for playing Sebastian Brown in Nanny McPhee , and heir apparent to the Honywood Baronetage.
Moana’s maternal grandmother was Anne Gertrude May Molloy (the daughter of Henry Molloy and Ellenor (Nellie) Connelly). Henry was from County Offaly, Ireland. Ellenor was from Canterbury, New Zealand, and was likely of Scottish or Irish descent.
Sources: Genealogy of Moana Maniapoto (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Genealogy of Moana’s father (through his brother) – https://www.familysearch.org
Moana mentions her father – https://twitter.com
Genealogy of Moana’s paternal grandfather, Hema Maniapoto – https://www.geni.com
Moana mentions her paternal grandmother, Mamaeroa Hamiora – https://twitter.com
Genealogy of Moana Maniapoto (focusing on her mother’s side) – http://www.thepeerage.com
Obituary of Moana’s mother – https://notices.nzherald.co.nz