Maniapoto had been singing in clubs and cover bands and doing backing vocals, when musician Dalvanius Prime encouraged her to release her own music.

[2] A year later, Prime contacted Maniapoto and asked her to take part in a campaign for the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand, around promoting moderation among Māori.

[3] The song describes a woman's love and despair she feels for a man with a drinking problem, and is a warning on the perils of driving under the influence of alcohol.

[6] Maniapoto was unused to the fashion style that Prime suggested for the magazine and music video appearances, feeling as if he had transformed her into "the Māori Cher".

[7] At the 1987 New Zealand Music Awards, "Kua Makona" was nominated for Best Polynesian work, losing to Herbs' "E Papa / Jah Knows".