Dilworth Karaka, a founding member and enduring frontman of the New Zealand reggae band Herbs, has died.
Across more than four decades, Karaka helped shape the sound and spirit of Pacific reggae in New Zealand, blending Jamaican rhythms with Māori and Pasifika storytelling and political consciousness.
Herbs' music became a voice for communities often unheard, with Karaka saying: “We were the voice for a lot of people that just weren’t getting heard.”
Born in 1950, Karaka co‑founded Herbs in Auckland in 1979 alongside Toni Fonoti, Spencer Fusimalohi and Fred Faleauto, remaining the band's guitarist and lead singer through many lineup changes.
Karaka joined the group after being introduced by Polynesian Panthers leader Will ‘Ilolahia, anchoring the band firmly within the political movements taking place in central Auckland at the time.
Early demos recorded at Mascot Studios became their landmark 1981 release What’s Be Happen?
The EP addressed events such as the Dawn Raids and featured the Bastion Point eviction on its cover — a protest Karaka attended with his young whānau.
The 506‑day occupation, he later said, taught him "the power of music".
Herbs went on to release influential songs throughout the 1980s, including the anti‑nuclear anthem French Letter.
The band became one of Aotearoa’s most significant musical voices, later collaborating with Dave Dobbyn on Slice of Heaven, Tim Finn on Parihaka, and Annie Crummer on See What Love Can Do.
In 2012, Herbs were officially recognised as cultural icons when they became the 11th inductees into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.
Their story and political influence were later chronicled in the 2019 documentary Herbs: Songs of Freedom.
Karaka’s whānau confirmed his passing in a statement shared on social media.
He will be taken to Ōrākei Marae on March 9, where he would lie in state for one night before travelling to Whaatapaka Marae for two further nights. His burial will also take place at Whaatapaka.
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