Ria Hall thrilled a television audience of millions when she sang at the 2011 Rugby World Cup opening ceremony.
Now Ria is starring as one of the presenters on Maori TV’s AIA Marae DIY.
The show brings whanau, iwi and hapu together, rebuilding and revitalising their marae for communities to enjoy.
“I got a phone call from Te Ori Paki [her co-host], who asked if I was interested,” Hall says. “Of course I said yes! I thought to myself what an opportunity this is, and I went for it.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t blessed with a green thumb but I grew up around wonderful gardeners such as my grandmother and my father. I’m absolutely in love with the show and I’m enjoying everything it stands for.
“There are very few downs on AIA Marae DIY. However, one would be that it has to finish, and we have to leave the marae and the community. Everything else is all positive – the people, the stories, sharing of kai, the singing, the sense of community – all the beautiful things that make me so thankful to be from Aotearoa.”
It has been a busy several months for Hall, who lent her voice to the Aotearoa Reggae Allstars charity single and celebrated Matariki on tour with Betty-Anne Monga, Whirimako Black and Maisey Rika.
“To be honest, I’m not actually sure how I’m doing it all,” Hall says. “Having a big wall planner helps me stay on track, although it still is a hard slog.
“I don’t get a lot of down time and when I do it may only be for one day which I use to catch up on sleep. I’m a pretty driven woman and I’m very determined to give as much of myself to all these amazing opportunities as I can and while I’m able.”
The next few months don’t get any less hectic for Hall.
Her debut album Rules of Engagement is due out at the end of the month.
“I’ve got a few tours coming up, a couple of videos to shoot, my album to release and my own tour to do,” Hall says. “I probably won’t get any rest until Christmas but hey, those are the sacrifices you make to achieve your goals – and I’ve got no problem with that.”
Ad Feedback
–
