17 April 2008 - 1 Comment

Singer-songwriter Mahinarangi Tocker died in hospital in Auckland on Tuesday (15 April) after a massive asthma attack resulting in respiratory failure. She was 52.

Of Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Maniapoto, Hebrew and Celtic ancestry, she had recorded six albums of her music, beginning in 1982 with "Clothesline Conversations." Her 1995 album "Mahinarangi" was chosen by the NZListener as one of New Zealand's ten best CDs of the 20th Century. She frequently collaborated with other New Zealand musicians, many of whom worked with her in recordings and live performance. Her 1997 CD "Te Ripo" was produced by Shona Laing, who is also a soloist on Mahinarangi's latest and last album "The Mongrel In Me" (2005).

As a composer, Mahinarangi worked with, amongst others, Tim Finn, Eddie Raynor, Hammond Gamble, Paul Casserley and classical composer Ross Harris.

She performed in almost every town and city in New Zealand, including a national tour with Charlotte Yates which resulted in the "Touring" CD. She was a featured artist (with a band of colleagues) at three Womads including Womadelaide. She was a soloist in the Baxter and Tuwhare shows and contributed a track to each of the CDs associated with these performances. She was a soloist with Stroma, and had sung with the Auckland Philharmonia in a mini-opera for which she had contributed the story and libretto, with music by Ross Harris.

Her last public performance was at the Titirangi Music Festival in Waitakere City on 29 March.

She began workshops for music and creativity in learning and self esteem, and was a tireless worked in support of campaigns for destigmatising mental illness - one of her most popular songs was used in a recent television campaign.
For her services to music, Mahinarangi became a Member of the New Zealand Order or Merit in the 2008 New Year Honours List. Her investiture was scheduled for the day after her sudden death.

Mahinarangi Tocker is mourned by her family, friends and colleagues.

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