Happy 2017! With the Summer festival season well under way and Te Matatini in Ngāti Kahungunu just around the corner, we want to wish everyone a very safe holiday period and travel to these various, exciting events.

Happy Matariki! and welcome to new friends! It's been a while since our last newsletter and so much has happened. Toni has been supporting a number of important kaupapa whilst preparing for the upcoming performances we've listed below.

‘Kahungunu Maranga’ is the latest release from Kahungungu manu tioriori, Toni Huata.  

Available as of Waitangi Day 2016, ‘Kahungunu Maranga’ is a 3 song EP in Te Reo Māori,flavoured with a swing-jazz sound and a touch of country and released with the support of Te Māngai Pāho.

Toni Huata, a now internationality known performer from Hastings and based in Wellington, during last night's tribute to late Kahurangi Performing Arts School founder Tama Huata.

Inspiration:
“I look at my family and a lot of them make their dreams a reality. So I wrote with that in mind. [The track Hopukia te tao] It is about being brave, speaking up and making choices. Cousin Hira with our family dialect, Paddy Free's production with stunning musical composition from Gareth Farr was the perfect collaboration for this song.”

This month has been fill of great music, collaborations and concerts throughout NZ's North Island and main centres Auckland and Wellington. We are in production for a music video for Toni's epic song 'HOPUKIA TE TAO' a collaboration with NZ renowned percussionist and composer Gareth Farr https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuKZlSc87mE. 

Toni is also touring throughout the country including her home regions of Ngati Kahungunu for MATARIKI in June and July. We wish you all the best celebrating 100% NZ Music...Mauri ora!

For Toni's music check out: http://www.amplifier.co.nz/artist/8266/toni-huata.html

Kia ora tatau,

Since China, Toni has been busy over the festive season performing and MCing in various events, award ceremonies, conferences, educational lectures and cultural collaborations from China to Melbourne to Aotearoa - New Zealand! Every performance and collaboration has bee a highlight. 

As 2015 shapes up, Toni looks forward to new composition projects, tours nationally and more international engagements. We look forward to sharing our updates with you all! Remember if you would like to listen to Toni's music, click on the links below.

Mauri ora!

Toni Huata is in Shanghai for the World Music Festival, NZ World Music Festival and will also travel to Wuxi city for the Shanghai International Festival over the next 3 weeks. Toni stunned Shanghai locals with her first performance last night in New Hongqiao Central Park that also saw Toni collaborate with local based DJ Cavia for the first time. Toni also will engage in cultural exchange visits, music schools, universities, consulate events and poi making works shops as well as further festival shows whilst in China. “Just in this short time I have an even deeper respect for the culture, history and language of the people here in China. I am very honoured to be part of one of the four groups that have and are entertaining here alongside Maisey and JJ Rika, The Musical Island Boys and Wellington’s International Ukulele Orchestra. The collaboration with DJ Cavia is perfect. I look forward to the rest of our stay here.” - Toni Huata http://www.idealshanghai.com/focus/116702/

Mãori song-tress Toni Huata recently performed with Strike Percussion and soprano Deborah Wai Kapohe at the All Blacks verse Spring Box game at Westpac Stadium, Wellington, NZ. "I love the collaboration of these musical and cultural elements performing Gareth Farr's piece 'Ngã Tae Hurihuri' for this occasion. Very special and always an honour...thank you my friends" Toni Huata.

Please view at: http://vimeo.com/craigbain/review/107233019/6c6186384c 

Indigenous Diva Unveils Matariki Music Extravaganza

Award-winning singer-songwriter Toni Huata will unveil three new music projects at a Matariki showcase of Ngāti Kahungunu talent in Wellington next month (June 2014).