S’porean on Solo Trip to NZ Gets a Touch of Home as Maori Hosts Sing ‘We Are Singapore’

During a three-week solo journey across New Zealand in June, Singaporean traveler Lee Wei Yang experienced an unexpected moment of nostalgia when his Maori hosts at a cultural village performed the beloved National Day classic, We Are Singapore. Although Lee was the only Singaporean in the group, he was moved to hear the familiar tune sung by locals.

Lee visited the Te Pa Tu cultural village in Rotorua, where his tour included a traditional Maori feast and performances of cultural songs and dances. As part of the experience, each visitor was asked about their home country so that the hosts could perform a song in their honor. The Maori family sang tunes from Mexico and the U.S. for other guests, but when it was Lee’s turn, they delivered We Are Singapore with genuine enthusiasm, complete with a guitarist and backup singers. The familiar lyrics hit home, and Lee, who was nearing the end of his trip, was overcome with emotion.

Reflecting on the experience, Lee told Mothership that he hadn’t anticipated such a personal moment, noting, “I didn’t expect them to know this song, but it made me feel really touched and sentimental.” The performance resonated with Lee and viewers online, who responded with similar sentiments of pride and nostalgia.

We Are Singapore, first released in 1987, remains one of the most iconic National Day songs, making this heartfelt rendition by his Maori hosts all the more memorable for Lee on his solo travels.