Dilworth John Karaka, a revered figure in New Zealand music and a pioneering voice of Pacific reggae, passed away on March 7, 2026, at the age of 75. As a founding member and enduring frontman of the iconic band Herbs, Karaka dedicated over four decades to shaping a unique sound that blended Jamaican rhythms with Māori and Pasifika storytelling and political consciousness. His music served as a powerful platform for communities often unheard, articulating struggles for justice, racial equality, and nuclear-free aspirations.

Born in 1950 in Auckland, Karaka's early life was rooted in the city, where he grew up and later spent eighteen years working on the waterfront. He was of Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Hine, Ngāi Tai, and Ngāti Whātua descent, with deep ties to the Kīngitanga movement through his father, Johnny Mita Karaka. Before his musical career, he was a talented rugby league player whose promising sporting path was cut short by a serious injury at Carlaw Park that led to the amputation of his left leg below the knee due to gangrene. These formative experiences, particularly his time as a wharfie, instilled in him a deep understanding of the struggles faced by ordinary people, which would later infuse his music with authenticity and resonance. Prior to co-founding Herbs, Karaka was also involved with 'Papa,' a musical collective based out of the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Māia.

In 1979, Karaka co-founded Herbs in Auckland alongside Toni Fonoti, Spencer Fusimalohi, and Fred Faleauto. Polynesian Panther leader and former Herbs manager, Will 'Ilolahia, was instrumental in bringing Karaka into the band, recognizing his ability to complete the band's signature seven-part harmonies. The band quickly became known for its politically charged music, emerging during a period of significant social activism in Aotearoa. Their landmark 1981 EP, "What's Be Happen?", directly addressed critical issues such as the Dawn Raids and featured the Bastion Point eviction on its cover, a protest Karaka attended with his young family. Karaka himself stated that the 506-day occupation at Bastion Point taught him "the power of music." Several major retrospectives have since emphasized Karaka's role in shaping a "political and cultural language for generations of Māori and Pacific listeners," with Herbs' music becoming deeply rooted in the 1970s Bastion Point occupation, the Dawn Raids, and the anti-nuclear struggle of the 80s.

Herbs continued to release influential songs throughout the 1980s, including the anti-nuclear anthem "French Letter" in 1982, which expressed New Zealand's strong anti-nuclear stance. The band's impact extended beyond protest music, as they collaborated with prominent artists like Dave Dobbyn on the chart-topping 1986 hit "Slice of Heaven," Tim Finn on "Parihaka," and Annie Crummer on "See What Love Can Do." UK reggae icons UB40 reportedly heard Herbs' emerging blend of reggae and called it "Pacific reggae," a label that subsequently stuck and defined a new sound.

Dilworth Karaka remained the constant heartbeat of Herbs through many lineup changes, serving as the band's guitarist and lead singer. His unwavering commitment to the band's kaupapa and its musical message earned him the description of being "the rock and foundation of Herbs" by co-founder Toni Fonoti, who also reiterated that Karaka was "the face of Herbs." The band's profound influence was officially recognized in 2012 when they were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame, cementing their status as cultural icons. Further accolades followed in 2015, when Herbs received the Taite Music Prize Classic Record award for their debut EP "What's Be Happen?" and the Pacific Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in the same year.

Karaka's legacy was further celebrated in the 2019 documentary "Herbs: Songs of Freedom," which chronicled the band's story and political influence. His passing prompted an outpouring of grief and gratitude across New Zealand and the wider Pacific, with many remembering him as a humble man with a musical soul who quietly changed New Zealand's perception of music. Polynesian Panther leader and former Herbs manager, Will 'Ilolahia, paid tribute to Karaka, calling him his "best mate" and "true brother," and committed to wear black for a year in his honor. Tearepa Kahi, director of the documentary, described Karaka as a "quiet and self-effacing man who played a major role in shaping New Zealand music." Current Katchafire lead singer Logan Bell described Karaka as generous with his time and supportive of younger artists. Christchurch's Pacific Underground praised Herbs for providing the soundtrack to standing up against injustice, and UB40 shared memories of being welcomed "like family" during their 1981 tour of New Zealand.

Dilworth Karaka's work helped shape the soundtrack of modern Aotearoa and "helped sing a generation into awareness, identity and freedom." He nurtured generations of Māori and Pasifika musicians, and was central to building Māori and Pacific solidarity, bridging divides through shared labor, stages, and purpose. Dilworth Karaka's voice and conviction will continue to resonate, ensuring his enduring contribution to Aotearoa's cultural and political landscape.