Work: Karaka mai, Ōtautahi!
Bio: Denis Welch, Arts Editor for ‘The Listener’ from the Hone Tuwhare Poetry and Music Sentimental Journey Tour 2002, said that Mahina was a ‘Divinely voiced singer’. Other comments, ‘ The voices of the past are breathing through her’…
Mahina (Ngai Tahu, Kati Mamoe, Ngati Porou, A Tai Haunui a Papanui and the list does go on…) was recently one of the Project Leaders for Te Matatini 2015 opening using Nga Taonga Puoro. She is the lead vocalist for the band Big Belly Woman and was a founding member and performer with ‘Pacific Curls’. She collaborated with Ariana Tikao, Hinemoana Baker and Christine White to produce a show called, ‘Voices of our Ancestors’, that toured Nationally in Nov 2011 with Arts On Tour NZ.
She has featured in the Lighting Architecture Festival- A Canterbury Tale 2013, Audacious Festival, The Salon Mika Feb 2013 Fringe and Pride Festival in Auckland, Aroha Festival 2010 & 2011, Ngapuhi Festivals, Ngati Hine Festival 2010, Parihaka Peace Festival, 2007 Bay of Islands Jazz Festivals and Whangarei Jazz Festivals, Mission Bay Jazz Festival, the Oyster Festival and many others here and overseas.
Mahina is a talented recording artist, composer and is an accomplished player of Taonga Puoro (Maori Instruments) and currently features on the, ‘Te Hau Manu’, series on Maori TV 2010 and Te Taura Whiri I te Reo (Maori Language Commission’s Cartoons with Maree Sheehan 2013. She has presented many workshops that combine modern influences with traditional sounds, movement and vocals. Her music has been used in many sound tracks for, ‘When a city Falls’, about the CHCH earthquake, ‘Skin Stories’,Taamoko series, ‘Restoring the Mauri of Lake Omapere’, ‘URU’ and many other projects.
Mahina co-produced, featured on the CD album ‘Dance With the Wind – Te Karakia’, Big Belly Woman. This album was nominated as a finalist in the 2001 NZ Music Tui Awards. The second album, ‘Dignity – Ko Tapu Au, Tu Rangatira’ was launched at Parihaka Peace Festival, 2007. She has also co-produced and features on Pacific Curls’ album – ‘Mothers’ Line’ and ‘Pacific Swing’ and Planet Woman’s – ‘Reeling in the Pacific’.
Mahina is working on her new album. Her compositions reflect her passion for life, the environment, life experiences and global issues that are affecting all nations of the world and the affairs of the heart.