Released on Friday, May 1, the first full-length project from Te Wehi is more than a milestone record. It is the sound of an artist stepping fully into himself – grounded in where he comes from, clear about who he is, and confident in where he is heading.
Born and raised in Edgecumbe in the Bay of Plenty, Te Wehi (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whātua, Te Whakatōhea) has built his rise in a way that reflects the man himself: quietly, honestly and through hard work. Long before sold-out shows, chart success and major stages, he was creating music from his bedroom while running a fencing business and teaching himself production. There was never a grand plan to chase fame. Instead, there was simply a desire to make music that felt true.
That honesty has become the foundation of a connection with audiences across Aotearoa. Fans have responded to the authenticity in his music – songs shaped by real life, family, pride, love, growth and whakapapa. In an industry often driven by image, Te Wehi has built something rarer: trust.
That connection has translated into extraordinary momentum. Across 2025 and into 2026, he has consistently held the number one spot on the Aotearoa Music Charts, earned platinum and gold certifications, played standout sets at Jim Beam Homegrown and Rhythm and Vines, and joined L.A.B on tour across New Zealand and Australia.
But I’m Home suggests the story is only just beginning.
Created alongside acclaimed artist and producer Kings, the 15-track album captures the warmth, humility and emotional honesty that have made Te Wehi one of the country’s most compelling new voices. There is polish here, but never pretence. Every song feels connected to lived experience.
The title track, I’m Home, says a lot about the spirit of the project. Written at home and later recorded at Big Fan, it carries the kind of wisdom passed through whakapapa – respect for the land, understanding your place within it, and remembering what grounds you no matter how far life takes you. Much of that perspective comes from lessons handed down by his Koro/grandfather.
Its accompanying video, shot on Te Wehi’s farm, reinforces the same message. Nothing over-styled, nothing manufactured. Just the place he calls home and the life that continues to shape him.
That is what makes this album resonate. I’m Home is not trying to be anything other than a reflection of the man behind it. It carries cultural pride without needing to announce it. It speaks with emotional honesty without overreaching. It feels contemporary while staying rooted in something timeless – identity, whānau and belonging.
For many artists, success can create distance from where they began. For Te Wehi, success seems to have sharpened the connection.
With the album out now, he now heads out on his first nationwide headline tour this June, taking these songs directly to the people who helped build the movement around him. Expect strong crowds, loud singalongs and an artist meeting his moment in real time.Some albums mark a chapter. I’m Home feels like the start of something much bigger.