From New Zealand's National Museum (Te Papa Tongarewa) to London jazz clubs, Toni Huata's style and strength as a performer allows her to stand confidently in te Ao Mäori (the world of Mäori) and non-Mäori worlds.
Toni brings forth sounds and feelings from the past, mixes it with today's international musical influences to present a sound for the future.

Toni is a Mäori songwriter and vocalist, whose talent allows her to perform regularly both at home and overseas, including as support to The Neville Brothers (USA), Sentivo (UK) and Te Vaka (NZ/Tokelau), at the New Zealand International Festival of Arts, and at various music and dance festivals around the world. Her performances overseas have earned her praise:
"Aotearoa's very own Whitney Houston"- Cook Island News 2002
"Her stunning voice has been heard before but 'Te Maori e' is a visual and aural delight" - Real Groovy, NZ 2001.

Hailing from Hastings in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, Toni says she was surrounded by an eclectic array of influences including the Anglican Church, choir, tap dancing and Mäori cultural performance. She affiliates to Ngäti Kahungunu and Rongowhakaata tribes, and is also of Lebanese, German, Scandinavian and Irish decent.

Toni's music reflects her deep spiritual roots that came from being raised with the traditions of Mäori culture and song and her whakapapa (geneology).
Toni pursued formal music training at Whitireia Polytechnic, Porirua, graduating in 1994. Her quest to hone her skills as a performer took her to Jim Moriarty's Te Rakau Hua o Te Wao Tapu touring theatre company in 1995. Adding more strings to her bow, Toni performed in various theatrical productions for Downstage Theatres, Taki Rua Theatre and Productions, Circa Theatres and more recently Te Whaea theatre in Wellington.

REVIEWS - What the Media think:

"Local sounds with international flavour - Huata joins the ranks of composers and performers taking the unique sound of Aotearoa to the world" - Tu Mai Magazine, NZ 2003

"Confidently blending both Maori and non-Maori worlds, Toni has captured sounds and feelings from the past, while mixing them with today's international influences" - Tu Mai Magazine, NZ 2003

"Toni Huata presents a stunning performance for Matariki" - Dominion, NZ 2002

"Following in her grand father's footsteps" - On Arts Magazine, NZ 2001

"Haunting Experience: Toni Huata" - New Zealand Herald 2000

"Toni Huata - born to perform" - Kokiri Paetai NZ 2000

"The beautiful vocal power of Toni Huata" - Evening Post, NZ

"Maori Diva sings in London" - NZ News UK

"Toni Huata sets the mood" (performance with the Neville Brothers) - Kapi Mana, NZ

Distribution & Label Contacts:

New Zealand: info@maorimusic.com Neil Cruickshank

France: info@oceaniarecords.com David Trouffier

Australia: hotrecords@bigpond.com Graeme Regan

United Kingdom: hotrecords@pavilion.co.uk Graeme Regan

Management Contacts:

WaaHuu Creations
Adrian Wagner
PO Box Marion Square
Te Whanganui a Tara - Wellington
Aotearoa - New Zealand
Tel: +64 4 380 0110
Mob: +64 21 639 790
info@tonihuata.com
www.tonihuata.com