10th Festival of Pacific Arts | Artists

Kurahapainga Te Ua (Kura) (Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Te Whakatohea, Tuhoe)

Kura is a professional Māori Performing Arts performer, with extensive training through Pounamu Performing Arts and The University of Auckland. A recent graduate with a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Dance), Kura has performed in the dance theatre show Maui-One Man Against the Gods, and as an actor in the Taki Rua Productions 2006 Te Reo Māori Season. Kura is a long standing member of the renowned roopu kapa haka, Te Waka Huia.

Kura's passion for dance and Māori performing arts has led her to workshop experiences with Atamira Dance Collective, Te Rea, Pounamu Performing Arts and Kapa Haka National Competitions. In Pago Pago Kura will be collaborating with Toni Huata and Te Ahukaramu Charles Royal to showcase a range of Māori music.

Loretta Moauli Young (Samoa)

In 2006 visual artist, curator and artistic director Loretta Young was awarded the $3000 Salamander Gallery Award for Emerging Pacific Visual Artists at the Craetive New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards. Born in 1971 in Samoa, and raised in New Zealand, Loretta's work engages with the challenge of disrupting boundaries formed around ideas of cultural appropriation and cultural authenticity.

Loretta says of her work, "Conceptually my work addresses and brings forth for consideration the impact of mobility and globalization on cultural issues and practices. Through engagement with contemporary materials and process my work reflects a kind of "storytelling" which in this instance is a lament for those who have passed on and for a way of life that is in flux."

Manos Nathan (Te Roroa, Ngāti Whatua, Ngāpuhi)

Manos Nathan has been at the forefront of the Māori ceramics movement in Aotearoa since the mid 1980's and is co-founder of Ngā Kaihanga Uku- Māori Clayworkers Organization. His work from clay emerged from a background in wood carving and sculpture and draws on a rich heritage of customary art forms and Māori cosmological and creation narratives.

Manos has exhibited extensively both in New Zealand and overseas and his works are found in a number of public and private collections worldwide including the British Museum, Museum of Scotland, Burke Museum (USA) and Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand.

Misa Emma Kesha (Western Samoa)

Emma Kesha came to New Zealand to live from Western Samoa when she was eighteen years old in 1958. Influenced by her mother and grandmother she has been weaving since she was nine years old. A passionate artist and tutor of weaving, Emma has actively sought to share her skills and knowledge with others.

She says, "Weaving is an art, talent and a gift that I have been given. My aim as an artist is to promote and preserve the art of weaving by sharing my knowledge, especially with the younger generation of my culture. Otherwise this knowledge could be lost in our modern society."

Having tutored and exhibited weaving throughout New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Noumea, New Caledonia and Australia, Misa Emma Kesha has taught weaving to a wide range of people. "I love to teach people of all cultures as I believe it is an art that needs to be shared."

Natalie Couch (Ngāti Tuwharetoa)

Natalie Couch graduated wth a Bachelor of Fine Art from Elam School of Fine Art, Auckland University in 1998, where she majored in printmaking and design. For the past few years she has exhibited extensively in group and solo shows in Aotearoa, United States, Bulgaria and France working mainly in print, drawing and mixed media.

She says, "My work is a process of exploration into my culture, which in turn gives me better understanding of others. Through similarities and differences of mahi toi and tikanga, we can identify the ways in which we as indigenous peoples relate to our unique environs of the Pacific- hence, in coming together, we are effectively weaving together the various kakano of the ula."

Netane Wiki Singh-Lagah (Tuhoe, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Uenuku Kopako)

Tane Singh-Lagah was inspired to learn whakairo (Māori carving) and tā moko when he met his father for the first time in 1999 and discovered he was a carver. Having left Aotearoa when he was five Tane, had limited exposure to Māori art. In 2003 he was awarded a three year scholarship to be in the 31st intake at the prestigious Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Waananga. There he learnt whakairo under the guidance of master carvers Albert Te Pou, Clive Fuegill and James Rikard. During this time he worked on the carvings for Orakei Marae in Tamaki-Makaurau and Tahuwhakatiki Marae at Welcome Bay, Tauranga.

Tane says of his work, "Being a tā moko artist and Māori wood carver I have learnt more of our links to our whanaunga in tropical Polynesia through the arts, tattooing, carving, whakapapa, language, navigation, myths and legends. I strongly believe in forging links to polynesian people through the arts of tattoo and carving. I am passionate and dedicated to both of these artforms, as a practitioner its our responsibility to keep these taonga given to us by our tupuna alive among our people at home and abroad; to teach and expose it to our rangatahi, and to share and showcase our culture through our arts to the world".

Pacific Underground

Established in Christchurch in1992, the work of Pacific Underground encompasses theatre, music, dance and visual arts. Known as a "breeding ground" for New Zealand's leading entertainers such as Scribe, Oscar Kightley and Dallas Tamaira (lead singer of Fat Freddy's Drop); Pacific Underground has been instrumental in bringing New Zealand Pacific culture into prominence.

Their mandate is "to tell stories about Pacific Islanders living in Aotearoa. To develop theatre that acts as a medium for change for our community, theatre that will entertain and uplift not just Pacific Islanders, but everybody who lives alongside them. To promote and raise awareness about Pacific Islanders locally and globally."

Tanya Muaguatuti'a is a New Zealand Samoan. A talented singer and writer of music and theatre, Tanya Muaguatuti'a has also been the driving force behind the Pasific Arts Festival of Christchurch as director and this year was the artistic co-ordinator for Pasifika in Auckland, the largest Pasific festival in the world. Together with her husband, Pos Mavaega they have been creating and producing shows for Pacific Underground for 10 years.

Pos Mavaega is a New Zealand Samoan. Island Summer, written by Pos, is a 25 piece guitar orchestra show that will be performed in Pago Pago with the assistance of other guitarists recruited from there. Pos has worked collaboratively with many other artists in the role of music director, producer, musician and co-songwriter. He has also taught and mentored music students.

Andrew Sione is a New Zealand Samoan. Andrew taught himself to play the guitar when he was a child. As well as being a regular performer with Pacific Underground and other collectives, he also plays guitar for soul jazz band Tribalincs. In 2007 Tribalincs played support for Lionel Ritchie when he performed in New Zealand.

Rawiri Paratene (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi)

Rawiri Paratene gained an international profile as an actor for his acclaimed performance as Koro in the iconic New Zealand film Whale Rider. His career of thirty- five years in the arts to date, from television to radio, theatre to writing to documentary- making, is testament to the prolific impact he has made on the cultural landscape of Aotearoa.

Using his profile to create positive change, in 2005 Rawiri was co-devisor/ lead actor in a project called ‘Children of the Sea', a series of theatre workshops in Sri Lanka for young survivors of the tsunami and ongoing crisis of civil war. He is currently working on a feature film documentary that will focus on the issue of man made noise in the ocean and its effect on sea mammals. Connecting this issue to his work in Whale Rider, Rawiri will be raising the profile of the Ocean Noise project while in Pago Pago as well as discussing the growing movement of Pacific film-making.

Robert Ruha (Ngāti Porou, Te Whanau Apanui)

Born in 1980, Robert Ruha has already established himself as a well respected composer, performer and storyteller. He has recently graduated with a Masters in Matauranga Māori degree from Te Wananga o Raukawa. A motivated and inspiring young leader, his project for Pago Pago is Te Reo o Te Piu Piu, a story-telling exhibition based on the music, movement and moteatea of the piu piu.

Robert says, "Following the theme of the of this year's festival. Su'iaga 'ula a le Atuvasa - Threading the Oceanic Ula, I chose the ‘piu piu' as its parallel where the weaving of the many pokinikini strands in the piu piu is likened to weaving histories, arts, stories, cultures, spiritual beliefs and like the ula- threading or weaving people together."

Stone (Kulimoe'anga) Maka (Tonga)

As a visual artist Stone Maka has recently begun research into black tapa (more highly prized than the more common white tapa) from Tonga. His research has revealed that other Pacific nations also once had a similar kind of tapa which has now been lost or forgotten. For Stone, the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts is an opportunity to exhibit his paintings, meet with other artists and further his research. He says, "I look forward to meeting with the other delegates at the Festival of Pacific Arts, to share/ exchange ideas and information about my research. By doing this, I hope to build relationships and networks with my fellow artists, to eventually unlock the mysteries of the black tapa."

Suzanne Tamaki (Maniapoto, Hikairo, Tūhoe, Te Arawa)

Suzanne Tamaki blurs the boundaries between art and fashion. Suzanne's recent involvement with Pasifika Styles in Cambridge, England led to a commission from the British Museum. The museum asked Suzanne to create Manu Wahine a contemporary Māori kite, for their permanent collection.

For Pago Pago Suzanne will present Hurihuri: a Maori Fashion Evolution, a multi media fashion showcase portraying the evolution of Maori fashion from past to the future. Showcasing the work of some renowned weavers such as Pip Devonshire, Sonia Snowden and Kohai Grace, the show will also incorporate contemporary streetwear, evening wear, couture and wearable art. Suzanne says of the concept, "The show comes full circle, like an ula. The Maori fashion evolution begins with traditionally designed and woven korowai, hieke, piu piu and rapaki, to colonial inspired blanket garments and military wear, funky men's and women's streetwear, elegant tailored evening wear , back into contemporary couture influenced woven bodices and dresses".

Taki Rua Productions

Taki Rua Productions will present Strange Resting Places at the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts. This acclaimed play by Paolo Rotundo and Rob Mokaraka also featuring Maaka Pohatu, premiered at the AK07 Festival and has played to sell out houses around New Zealand. Through songs and laughter, in Italian, Maori and English with numerous hilarious and moving characters, strange resting places tells some of the stories from the Maori battalion involvement in World War II.

Paolo Rotundo is an Italian- born New Zealander. An award winning actor and writer, he has worked in the theatre, film and television industry for over ten years. He is best known for his feature film credits The Ugly and Stickmen as well as TV 2's Shortland Street.

Rob Mokaraka is of Ngāpuhi/Tūhoe descent. He has been part of award winning theatre productions InSALT and Have Car Will Travel (Bats) for which he won Best Male Newcomer at the 2001 Chapman Tripp Awards. Film and television credits include Duggan, Mataku, Love Bites, Aikido Insane and Taika Waiti's short film Tama Tu.

Maaka Pohatu is of Ngai Tamanuhiri, Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Porou and Tuwharetoa descent. A graduate of Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School, Maaka began working for Taki Rua in 1998, performing in the Te Reo Māori Season tour of Taku Waimarie Hui Hopping and in later years doing radio plays; by Hone Kouka and Te Kauta by Moira Wairama. He is also a fluent speaker of Māori with a strong background in traditional Māori performing arts and tikanga Māori.

Te Ahukaramu Charles Royal (Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Tama-te-ra and Ngāpuhi)

Charles Royal (B.Mus(Hons), M.Phil, PhD) is a composer, writer and researcher. He uses his extensive research skills and experience to inform his creativity which involves traditional Māori knowledge or mātauranga Māori.

Charles has written and/or edited five books (on Māori song poetry, research and tribal history) and in 2001 was New Zealand Senior Fulbright Scholar where he conducted research into indigenous worldviews in the United States (Hawai'i and New Mexico) and Canada. In October 2004, Charles took up a research residency at the prestigious Rockefeller Foundation Study and Conference Center, Bellagio, Italy.

In Pago Pago Charles will collaborate with Toni Huata and Kura Te Ua to showcase a range of Māori music.

Teaukura A Upu [Chuck Upu] (Cook Islands)

Teaukura (Chuck) Ariki Upu is a professional performer, Pacific performing arts lecturer, recording artist, and co-producer of Cook Islands music. A Whitireia diploma graduate, Chuck has toured internationally to demonstrate, participate, and compete in his specialist field, Pacific music and dance. Chuck has taught ukulele and drumming workshops at New Zealand institutions including schools, universities, and the Auckland Philharmonia and is now the artistic director of Soifua Village Polynesia, one of New Zealand's newest Polynesian cultural entertainment and tourism companies. Chuck will be performing in Pago Pago with King Kapisi (Bill Urale) and Teremoana Rapley.

Teremoana Rapley (Māori/Cook Islands)

Teremoana Rapley launched her music career when she was 14 with Upper Hutt Posse. Since then she has been a fixture in the New Zealand hip hop scene working with numerous bands as a singer and co-writer, including Upper Hutt Posse, Moana and the Moahunters, DLT, King Kapisi, Del Ray System and Dam Native.

Teremoana, has been a director and presenter for rangatahi television show Mai Time, performed in New Zealand and overseas and has previously won the 'Female Vocalist of the Year' and 'Most Promising Vocalist' award at the New Zealand Music Awards.

Te Warihi Kokowai Hetaraka (Ngāti Wai, Tainui, Ngāpuhi)

Whangarei tohunga whakairo (master carver), teacher and mentor Te Warihi Kokowai Hetaraka was the 2007 recipient of the Creative New Zealand Creative Places Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution. Along with a national and international reputation for his artwork, Te Warihi is widely respected for his profound knowledge of tikanga Māori. A graduate of the first intake of the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua in 1969, he has touched the lives of many people in Northland and beyond over the past thirty years.

As a master carver, he has represented Māori and New Zealand at conferences and seminars around the world. Among his many works are the carvings in the Māori Affairs Select Committee Room of Parliament Buildings, the carving of Whangarei's Terenga Paraoa Marae and Te Wairoa, an 18-metre waka taua.

His sculptural work in Whangarei - Waka and Wave, a bicultural partnership project resulting in a stone sculpture by Te Warihi and Kerikeri artist Chris Booth, epitomises his skills in working collaboratively with a broad range of people.

Toni Huata (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongowhakaata)

Toni Huata is well known for her elaborate costumes and powerful performances, which combine contemporary music and Te Reo Māori. She performs nationally on a regular basis including appearances at the New Zealand International Festival of Arts. Her dramatic performance in Tanemahuta Gray's Maui: One Man Against the Gods was testimony to her talent as a multi skilled performer.

Internationally Toni has toured throughout USA, Europe and Asia. In 2001 she performed in, Hawaii, United Kingdom, Holland and Australia. In Pago Pago she will collaborate with Te Ahukaramu Charles Royal and Kura Te Ua to showcase a range of Māori music.

Troy Gardiner (Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Arawa, Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Ranginui)

When Troy Gardiner moved to Hawkes Bay fifteen years ago he made the decision to learn to weave with harakeke. Troy says, "I learnt to weave under the tuteledge of Bana Paul, who came from a long line of weavers. However she wove harakeke in a completely contemporary way, which opened my imagination to other ways of utilising this artform. I have a passion for weaving and working in a sculptural form with fibre and natural fibre."

Troy has taught workshops throughout Aotearoa and has been a Te Reo Māori teacher at Taikura Rudolf Steiner School since 2000.

Tuafale Tanoi (Samoan)

Born in 1962, Tuafale Tanoi has played a hands-on role in radio, theatre and festivals before finding her niche as a multi-media installation artist. In 2007 she completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts degree from AUT and in the same year won the AUT University Sculpture Award for Visual Arts. In Pago Pago the artist will present a multi- media installation that will include moving images and stories from Aotearoa.

Turumakina Dudley (Ngaiterangi, Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe)

Turumakina Dudley will be in Pago Pago as part of Te Uhi o Mataora, the National Tā Moko Committee. The committee held a symposium as part of the WOMAD festival in Taranaki in March 2007. Turumakina alongside other ta moko artists promoted the kaupapa of tā moko to crowds of interested visitors.

Whangara-Mai-Tawhiti (Ngāti Porou)

Whangara-Mai-Tawhiti are the supreme winners of Te Matatini 2007, the national kapa haka championships. As part of the prize for that competition, the winning team represents Aotearoa in the delegation attending the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts. The group's prime tutor and composer is Derek Lardelli, well known for composing the All Black's Kapa o Pango haka.

Whangara-mai-Tawhiti was first established in 1961, and then revived in 1976. The current group was formed in 1995, following requests from local kuia and koroua who wanted to keep the tikanga and mana of Whangara alive. Many of its members are descendants of famous ancestor and whale rider Paikea who provided inspiration for the blockbuster movie Whalerider.

Whiu Waata (Ngāpuhi)

Whiu Waata was born and raised in Hokianga and continues to live there with his partner Emaraina Small and son Wairehu. The artist credits growing up in a small Māori rural community with his grandparents as the foundation for his creative path. Tikanga (culture) and kawa (protocol) were part of everyday life that lead to an interest in carving which was inspired by local artists. After initial interest in wood carving, Whiu has taken up onewa, pounamu and various other stones as his primary medium.

Working with Emaraina, an accomplished raranga artist, the couple combine their different mediums to enhance each others skills and mediums. Whiu says, "I feel priviledged to be a current practitioner of nga taonga tuku iho, using signposts of the past to determine a direction for the future for myself and whanau."