Maori Music Industry Coalition Update
Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:43 pm

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Welcome to the first monthly column from the Maori Music Industry Coalition (MMIC). A big thanks to New Zealand Music Industry Commission for inviting us to share what’s going on in our world with one and all through their website. For more info on us, visit our website too at http://www.maorimusicindustry.com/

MMIC is thrilled to congratulate the multi-talented Hareruia Aperahama for his Maori Album of the Year win at the 2004 Tui Awards. According to one source, Hareruia’s acceptance speech was one of the nights best. And he keeps pumping those albums out – at last count, he was on his fourth.

Speaking of awards, the Silver Scroll Awards are rolling around. We are reminded of another MMIC stalwart composer/singer/producer Ngahiwi Apanui, the inaugural APRA Maioha winner in 2003. This year, MMIC and APRA will be celebrating the 2004 Maioha winner in Wellington on October 26 - a great opportunity for Wellingtonians to descend in droves.

Wellingtonians might like to check out an impressive new talent, Elena. This violin playing performer is performing at the Michael Fowler Centre on October 1. From the press release, it actually looks like the Wellington Sinfonia might just be her backing band (wonder what the backstage catering will look like!)

August and September saw Kahungunu/Tuhoe diva Hinewehi Mohi showcasing her songs at the stage performance of The Whale Rider.

Still in Kahungunu, seminal group Black Katz expect to release a Best of Black Katz album in November, 2005. But the good news is that their four albums are now available for retail on C.D and cassette. With songs like Aotearoa and Ko Wai Ka Hua?, Black Katz is one of the best kept secrets of iwi radio. www.wahine.co.nz

Toni Huata and her crew of seven are taking their music and theatre / fashion fusion showcase to the Bellingen World Music Carnival in Australia. (www.globalcarnival.com/html_2004/carnival.html).

Back in Auckland, funk meisters Ardijah are launching their 4th album Journey at Manukau Citys ‘Guada’, 7pm on October 10. www.ardijah.com. The single bearing the album title is about Ryan Mongas whakapapa links from Rarotonga to the Hokianga and back into South Auckland.

Mahinarangi Tocker is playing both Womadelaide and Taranaki Womad with her eight piece ensemble which includes Ashley Brown (cello), Shona Laing (guitar/vocals), Anahera Higgins (vocals/bodhran), and Denny Stanway (vocals, bodhran). She is also appearing on the Hone Tuwhare C.D of his poems set to music by N.Z composers/song writers.

And Porirua based roopu WAI have recently returned to Aotearoa after 5 months overseas, including performances in the USA (Seattle, Minneapolis, New York), U.K (London, Brighton), Europe (Berlin, Channel Islands, Norway), Canada (Toronto), and Australia (Brisbane). www.wai100.com

As for Moana & the Tribe, after a busy winter performing in Spain, Germany and the U.K the band is are resting up while its management team heads to this years WOMEX in Essen (Germany). By the way, thanks to everyone who put the word out about our stolen equipment – it has yet to be recovered. www.moananz.com

As events go, the word on the kumara vine is that Tolaga Bay could well be the place to be on New Years Eve – besides the obvious (sea, kaimoana, great pub, friendly locals), a big double-pronged concert is in the planning. All we can say at this point is there will be one free community concert in the afternoon, then in the evening – a fully ticketed event. 0800 Ru Uawa.

That’s just a little bit about what’s happening with only some of our members. Singles and albums are flying out the door all over the place. The best site to track the lastest is www.maorimusic.com

As for the Board of MMIC, we have been working hard at our own businesses and equally hard at trying to build a strong foundation for the Coalition – a big challenge given the current political climate for Maori. HIne Martin of ThePhirm, is now onboard and driving a national consultation round as a basis for a National Maori Music Industry Strategy.

Hine will be talking with Maori musicians, label and studio owners and other parties about what gaps and challenges confront them in the music industry – also about their recommendations and solutions. She will also be talking with key Music Industry agencies and bodies charged with supporting industry growth in an effort to understand how they currently support Maori artists and businesses. We expect all the results from her consultation round to be tabled at the end of October. Once the Strategy is framed, MMIC will be advocating it to key decisionmakers who can effect a change in policy across the Board.

MMIC are looking forward to facilitating a more productive engagement between both Maori and relevant agencies. We are committed to supporting the creative, cultural and economic development of Maori Music Industry members at all levels and in all genres. We are heartened by the ‘Creating Heat – Tumata Kia Whita!’ strategy launched by Economic and Regional Development Minister Jim Anderton.

‘New Zealand offers a fresh and exciting new source of creativity to the world. Our Maori culture and distinctive cultural mix give us an authenticity and individuality that cannot be matched…there has never been a better time for the N.Z Music industry to capitalize on the elements that make us different.’

Amine!

We are very appreciative of support from the New Zealand Music Industry Commission (NZMIC), Te Puni Kokiri (TPK) and Te Waka Toi (CNZ) – who are enabling us to develop the National Maori Music Industry Strategy.

Here are only SOME of the initiatives the Board of MMIC managed in the last year - voluntary too by the way!

- Instituting and managing the Maioha award with the APRA team (2003 / 2004).
- Participating in and writing up a submission to the NZ Music Export Development Group (2003/2004)
- Building up relationships with NZ Music Industry Commission, Te Waka Toi, Toi Maori, APRA, Te Puni Kokiri, N.Z on Air, Te Mangai Paaho and others to keep Maori music on the agenda
- Attendance at Pao Pao Pao (2003, 2004) and Maori Expo (2003).
- Establishing employment codes, policies and job descriptions, ensuring that in the event that MMIC is funded to set up office, it will be a safe and fully functional environment.
- Encouraging applications for Summerstage (2003), Maioha Award (2003 / 2004) and MIEDG submissions.
- Sussing out how we can build Music into the Maori Economic Summit, scheduled in for March 2005.
- Setting up a cool website so that members of MMIC can inform others about their recordings, concerts, business! And everyone else can check out what we are up to.

We welcome all new members! There is no charge for membership and it is open to any individual or company with an interest and passion for Maori music. Please visit our website to see just what we are all about. http://www.maorimusicindustry.org.nz/

See you in Wellington at the APRAs, October 26.

Noho ora mai.

Moana Maniapoto
Chair, Maori Music Industry Coalition

RE: Maori Music Industry Coalition Update
Posted: Thu Dec 8, 2005 10:35 pm

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