Herbs

Herbs were among New Zealand’s first reggae bands to explore important Aotearoa New Zealand issues, standing up as a voice for people that weren’t getting heard.

Throughout their career and journey as artists, Herbs were important figures in New Zealand’s anti-nuclear stance, the Rainbow Warrior affair, and M?ori land rights, most notably Bastion Point. At the time of the release of their debut EP/mini-album What’s Be Happen? the cover of their recording debut displayed a black and white photo of the infamous police eviction of the Bastion Point protestors on May 25 1978. It set the tone for where Herbs were coming from and that they weren’t afraid to use their music to make social commentary on issues affecting them. This year marks 45 years since the occupation at Bastion Point.

The band welcomed many musicians throughout their active years, resulting in a rich line-up totalling some 27 members across their catalogue. Current members Dilworth Karaka, Maurice Watene and Tama Lundon, perform live as an acoustic trio.

“Herbs was the voice that rose- up from The Streets of Auckland, that called out the injustices of South Africa, identified the misery of the dawn raids. This was the band that called out for one brotherhood in Aotearoa – NZ, where the different races that existed in this country could come together to sing and dance in the one place.” Hugh Lynn – Herbs Manager

Herbs were inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame at the 2012 APRA Silver Scroll Awards, where seventeen of the band members past and present came together onstage, and Dilworth made a short and moving speech honouring his band members including those who had passed away.

2023 is also a special year for the album collection release, as it marks the 40th anniversary of the release of the album Light of The Pacific (1983). The 1983 mini album featured the hugely popular single French Letter, a song that stayed in the singles chart for 11 weeks in 1982, with almost no radio airplay.