Dam Native, a New Zealand hip hop group formed in 1992, initially consisted of Danny Haimona and Bennett Pomana. The group, originally named Native Bass, released their debut album Kaupapa Driven Rhymes Uplifted in 1997, marking one of the earliest entries into New Zealand's hip hop scene. Their music often addressed Māori issues and broader political topics relevant to New Zealand. In 1997, Dam Native won two awards at the NZ Music Awards: Most Promising Group and Most Promising Male Vocalist for Danny Haimona, becoming the first Māori Hip Hop group to win two NZ music awards. The group also supported major international acts such as Public Enemy and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Their second album, Aotearoa... Nobody Does It Better, was released in 2010. In 2022, Radio New Zealand featured Dam Native in season two of their documentary series NZ Hip Hop Stand Up.
