18 Facts About Anika Moa

Anika Moa was born in 1980 in the Auckland suburb of Papakura.

Anika Moa grew up in Christchurch and attended Hornby High School.

Anika Moa and her siblings were raised by Bernadette, who was a member of a band, which performed three days a week.

In 1998, Anika Moa won an award for Most Promising Female Musician and a music school scholarship at the New Zealand Smokefreerockquest high school music competition.

Anika Moa moved to New York to record her first album, Thinking Room, with Victor Van Vugt producing.

Anika Moa became homesick and uncomfortable with the "superficial" imagery used by her manager to promote her.

Anika Moa released her second album Stolen Hill on 1 August 2005, describing the album as "more sparse" and true to herself, compared to her first.

In 2005 Anika Moa was one of many New Zealand musicians who contributed to single "Anchor Me", which commemorated the twentieth anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior.

In October 2007 Anika Moa released her third studio album, In Swings The Tide, which went platinum and won a number of rave reviews.

Anika Moa entered into a civil union with Australian burlesque dancer, Azaria Universe, in February 2010.

Anika Moa has collaborated with other New Zealand solo artists, SJD and Bic Runga.

Anika Moa performed with the band, Dimmer, in a backup and touring capacity.

In February 2013 Anika Moa teamed with Boh Runga and Hollie Smith to release an album, Peace of Mind.

In September 2016 Moa debuted her interview talk show All Talk with Anika Moa, which was broadcast for the Maori Television, developed with support from NZ on Air.

In March 2018, Moa debuted a new interview show, Anika Moa Unleashed, available online through TVNZ OnDemand.

Anika Moa started working at radio network NZME in August 2019, first working at The Hits, later moving to the breakfast show on Flava, which she co-hosted until late 2022, before leaving to focus on her music career.

In December 2012, Anika Moa starred in an online video campaign supporting gay marriage, alongside New Zealand singers Hollie Smith and Boh Runga, as well as Olympian Danyon Loader and former Governor-General Dame Catherine Tizard.

Anika Moa was openly critical of New Zealand's National-led government until it left office in 2017.