Moana movie

Te Vaka was founded by Samoan-born Opetaia Foa'i, who is Tokelauan-Tuvaluan and was raised in New Zealand.

NiuFM reports Julie Foa'i, band manager and Opetaia's wife, says the Moana soundtrack is loaded with Te Vaka.

"There's a lot of tracks written by Opetaia in there, and when you hear the movie you will hear a lot of his input into the soundtrack and into the songs. Put it this way - the movie opens with Te Vaka," says Foa'i. 

The costume is based on a character in Disney's upcoming animated film Moana, which follows a young navigator's journey across the South Pacific.

In the film, Maui is depicted as being large, barrel chested and tattooed.

A child's costume, featuring "padded arms and legs", had been on sale on Disney's website.

Auckland writer Leah Damm said earlier that, even with the best intentions, it wasn't right to wear someone else's skin.