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I am a decendent of "Nga Tamariki o te Kohu" Otherwise known as "The Children of the Mist". Ko Ngahina te Marae, Ko Tawhaki te Tipuna whare, Ko Ngati Tawhaki te hapu. Ko maunga Pohatu me Panekire nga maunga, ko Waikaremoana te waikaukau o nga matua tipuna, Ko Waimako me Te Kuha nga marae. I also decend from "Te waka tapu o Takitimu" The sacred waka of Takitimu. My Marae are Hinemihi in Te Wairoa. Mohaka of Ngati Pahauwera. And Waimarama of Ngati Kurukuru and Ngati Whakaiti.

 

I hold a Bachelor of Social Science a Graduate Diploma of Teaching and a New Zealand Certificate of Forestry.  My professional experience includes a Maori studies lecturer at UNITEC, and The Tainui Regional Marketing Coordinator for Mahi Ora and Mauri Ora at Te Wānanga O Aotearoa. I was also contracted to the Department of Corrections to provide Cultural Supervision in the East Coast District. And I am currently Deputy Chair on the Hastings District Council Maori caucus and Maori Joint committee, as well as a sitting member of the Hastings District Resource Consents Committee. I am also a Maori Advisor for Deaf Aotearoa and a Youth mentor with DOVE Hawke's Bay.

I have a vast amount of experience in the TV and Film industries beginning with the Movie Utu which was filmed in my home region of Hawkes Bay in 1982. This provided a platform for a long and distinguished career in the Industry, including programes like Shortland Street, One Network News, and the Australian produced science programe - Quantum. Some of the programs I presented and voiced over are currently being repeated on Maori television like Wakahuia and the Animated reversionings of The Wombles of Wimbledon, Monkey King, Redwall and the Backyardigans.

 

In 2001 I played the lead role of Bassanio in the first Feature Movie to be filmed entirely in the Maori language called The Maori Merchant of Venice, which received the Blockbuster Video Audience Award for Best Feature and the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival 2002.

I have successfully worked in the entertainment industry both in Maori and English performing in Europe, as well as in Australia and New Zealand in Restaurants, Pubs, Clubs, at Birthdays, Weddings and other social gatherings. In 2000 & 2001 I composed and produced 2 CD's of contemporary Maori music entitled Hononga and Tangiwai which are currently being played by Radio Stations through out NZ.

 

I have a lot of experience in the recording studio, having recorded songs for both television and radio. Credits include the theme music to TVNZ's Maori History program Wakahuia and Maori TV's childrens programmes Watership Down, The Wombles of Wimbledon, Cubeez, Backyardigans and much more.

To purchase a copy of my Albums please contact me via the form below.

Albums cost $10.00

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