Estrella – A Taane Mete Performance

Milly Grant-Koria  

Milly Grant-Koria is an internationally recognised medicinal healer, therapist, herbalist, youth justice mentor, cultural dancer, song bird, channeller and representative for Indigenous communities.

Through her father’s line, she is Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui, Ngāti Te Ata, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Te Wehi, Portuguese and Native American. Through her mother’s, she is Sāmoan (Falealili, Fagaloa, Sapugaoa, Laulii), Southeast Asian and Hawai’ian.

Milly was raised with many cultures in her childhood. Upon entering the education system, however, she began to recognise that there was a projected need to ‘be a culture’. Through the encouragement and affirmation of her grandparents, Milly was taught to be ok with being in the middle – not one, not the other, not identifiable, but instead finding safety and joy in flow of her blood rather than locking it down to one land. This has echoed throughout her life  in her many different areas of experience, from tap, jazz, ballet and ballroom dance to Polynesian dance styles and Mau Rākau, and from opera, yodelling and classical music to chanting and wailing. Her experience is spread across cultures that have contributed to her curiosity, guided by being in the ‘middle’.

Among many of her vocations, Milly has been a holistic spiritual healer for 15 years, assisting people with major injuries, diseases and illnesses throughout Aotearoa and internationally through past life regression, spiritual healing, channeling and herbalism. She has assisted major corporations in the recovery of spiritual communication and with emotional trauma therapies and coaches mental health professionals. She is an Indigenous health advisor for hospice patients and runs Indigenous healing practices for businesses.  

She is also a vocal coach and works in professional theatre. Together with her husband and their two homeschooled children, she runs cultural experiences for Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Photo credit: Karena Koria 

 

Victor Hawkins

Hawkins is an artist of Māori, Pasifika, African and European descent. He started his professional career in 2004 as a backing and session vocalist for many artists in the New Zealand music industry. This led to opportunities offshore and would eventually see Hawkins step to the front as a lead singer for many bands at this time. Over two decades, Hawkins has carefully worked at his craft and has become known as a session vocalist, backing vocalist, arranger, vocal director, choir director, voice artist and as a live performer. 

In 2021 he released his critically acclaimed debut album Hawkins, which formally introduced him as an original artist. The introspective album explores Hawkins’ sonic upbringing and pays homage to many of the genres and artists who have inspired him throughout the years. The album garnered three top 20 singles and was nominated for a Pacific Music Award (2021 Best Male Artist) and a Waiata Māori Music Award (2021 Best Song). 

Since 2022, Hawkins has been working on collaborative projects including the top 20 single ‘Peace’ (with Dick Johnson, Sweet Mix Kids); ‘Another’ (with Lacoco); ‘Love Bind’ (with Lou ‘Ana as backing vocalist); ‘Midnight Mistress’ (with Ema I’u as a backing vocalist); ‘Kiss It Better’, which featured on the Sweet Mix Kids’ top 20 album Stargazing; top 20 single ‘Pikipiki’ (with Geneva Am); and Oceans Before Me’s album Songs of Rangiaowhia, written to commemorate the atrocities that took place on 21 February 1864. 

We (Ria Hall, Rākai Whauwhau, Mara TK) were asked to be a part of this project because we all hold ties to the area; either we are from there or we took them in after the massacre. Our people have always shared their stories vocationally; we’ve named our children after events and not always good ones and then we teach them every version of it; it helps to make it noa (common) and to keep the truth alive. Being a part of this allowed me to write my first songs ‘i roto i te reo Māori’, it allowed me to tell stories that have been silenced for too long and I am honoured to be a part of that    

On 21 February 2024 the album was released, coinciding with the return of parts of Nga Uri o Rangiaowhia land to them. 

Hawkins’ live performances have been described as electric and dynamic; with a soaring vocal range he commands the stage in every performance. His shows are unique  experiences full of energy and spirit. He hopes to release new music and a new album soon. 

Photo credit: K Leigh 

Mark Bulos

Mark Bulos is a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. He has recently graduated from the University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Raum with a conjoint degree in music (jazz performance) and business (marketing). He has performed alongside local jazz and pop/funk-adjacent artists, including Elisa, Dan Waterson Project, Radiophonics, as well as various big bands in Auckland. 

Mark has been playing guitar since age 9 and he has also taught himself keys, bass and drums, as well as music production.  

In his free time he enjoys working on personal musical projects as well as being immersed in visual arts.  

Photo credit: Yuriko 

Josh Clark 

He kaiwaiata, he kaipiana, he kaikōtui, he kaiwhakarite rangi, ka mutu, he kaitito a Josh Clark nō Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa. Ko ōna kāwai Māori e tātai mai ana i Hokianga.

I roto i āna mahi, kua mahi a Josh i roto i ngā whakaari puoro nui i Aotearoa, pēnei i a Billy Elliot: the Musical, me CATS: New Zealand National TourOnce: The Musical. Ko ia te kaitohutohu puoro i te whakaaturanga, Four Suits and a Soprano nā rātou ko te New Zealand String Quartet i whakaari atu i te Āperira/Mei o 2021. I te Hepetema o te tau 2019 i hūnuku ia ki Rānana ki te mahi hei kaiako reo waiata, hei kaitohutohu puoro i te kura nui o Emil Dale Academy.

Nō tōna hokinga mai ki Aotearoa, kua tū ia hei kaiwhakaari, hei kaitohutohu hoki i ngā whakaari puoro pēnei i I’m Still Standing – An Elton John Experience me The Candlelight Music Series i St Matthew-in-the-City. Ā, i ngā tau o te 2022 me te 2023 i mahi ia me ngā rāngai puoro nui o roto mai o Aotearoa i ngā whakaari All You Need is Love (Beatles) me You Should Be Dancin’ (Bee Gees), rātou tahi ko ētahi kaiwaiata nui pēnei i a Laughton Kora me Annie Crummer.

Ko ētahi atu mea whakahirahira ko tāna whakatangi piana i The Piano Bar ki te kaupapa o te Auckland Live Cabaret Festival 2022, me ngā Gay and Lesbian Singers (GALS), nāna rātou i ako, ko ia te kaitohutohu puoro. Ka mutu, i waiata takitahi ia i roto i te Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra i Link Up.

I roto i āna mahi tito me āna mahi whakarite rangi, i whai wāhi a Josh ki ētahi o ngā mahi whakarite rangi i te Fortissimo choir o te kura o Dilworth. Kua rua ngā wā i toa rātou i te Auahi Kore Performance Award i te whakataetae puoro o Big Sing, arā, mō te whakaari pai katoa o ngā titonga reo Māori. Kua whakaputaina e ia he titonga i te tau kua hipa mō te Auckland Philharmonia, tae atu ki ētahi mahi mā Tunes 4 Tamariki: Toi Time, Play In South me te haerenga tonutanga o ngā mahi rekoata tahi ki a Hana the Glowworm. I mahi tahi hoki ia ki a Ryan Youens ki te tito i ngā whakaritenga waiata tira mā Synthony in the Domain 2024. I te tau 2023, i kitea hoki tāna mahi tahi ki a Taane Mete i te kaupapa Marae in the Sky, waihoki, e kaikā ana ia ki te mahi tahi tonu ki a Taane me te kaupapa Estrella.

Ko Josh te Kairuruku Marketing & Audience Development mā te Auckland Philharmonia tae noa ki te Mei, 2024. E hoki atu ana rāua ko tana hoa rangatira a Emily ki London ā te Hune 2024 kia whāia tonutia āna mahi ki tāwāhi.

Josh Clark is a singer, pianist, conductor, arranger and composer from Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa. His Māori heritage hails from the Hokianga.

Throughout his career, Josh has worked on several major professional music theatre productions in Aotearoa including Billy Elliot: the Musical, CATS: New Zealand National Tour and Once: The Musical. He musically directed and performed in Four Suits and a Soprano with the New Zealand String Quartet in April/May 2021. In September 2019 he moved to London to work at the award-winning Emil Dale Academy as a singing teacher and music director. 

Since moving back to New Zealand, he has performed in and produced multiple shows including I’m Still Standing – An Elton John Experience and The Candlelight Music Series at St Matthew-in-the-City, and in 2022/2023 performed with many major orchestras around New Zealand in All You Need is Love (Beatles) and You Should Be Dancin’ (Bee Gees) alongside some of New Zealand’s greats including Laughton Kora and Annie Crummer.

Other highlights include playing piano at The Piano Bar for the 2022 Auckland Live Cabaret Festival, performing with the Gay and Lesbian Singers (GALS), for whom he was the Associate Musical Director, and singing solo with the Auckland Philharmonia in Link Up.
As a composer and arranger, Josh’s writing credits include multiple arrangements for Dilworth School’s renowned Fortissimo choir, who have twice won the Auahi Kore Performance Award at the Big Sing for best performance of a piece in te rēo Māori. He has produced a number of arrangements in the past year for the Auckland  Philharmonia including works for Tunes 4 Tamariki: Toi Time, Play In South & their ongoing recording collaboration with Hana the Glowworm. He also wrote in association with Ryan Youens the choral arrangements for Synthony in the Domain 2024. 2023 saw his collaboration with Taane Mete on Marae in the Sky and he is excited to continue working with Taane this year on Estrella.

Josh was the Marketing & Audience Development Coordinator for the Auckland Philharmonia until May 2024, and is moving back to London in June 2024 with his partner Emily to continue his career abroad.

 

Rosemary Whitehead 

Kua whakangungua a Rosemary Whitehead hei kaihoahoa pūeru. Kua 35 tau ia e wheako ana i ēnei mahi i ngā taumata teitei o te ao kākahu me te hoahoa pūeru. I kuraina a Rosemary ki te New Zealand College of Fashion Design, ā, kā whakapōtae ia me ngā tohu huriao, Pōkairua Druleigh me te Pōkairua mō te waihanga pūtaketake. I ako ia ki te waihanga kākahu koere i te Wimbledon School of Art and Design, ā, ki te waihanga momo pōtae i te London College of Fashion Design.

I Rānana, ka mahi a Rosemary hei kaiāwhina whakaputa mō tētahi tino kaihoahoa pūeru i Kensington, arā ko Ritva Westenius. I muri i tērā, ka tū ia hei kaiwhakaputa matua mō te umanga Events Bridalwear. Haere te wā, ka mahi ia hei ūpoko kaihoahoa mō Chrisanne Clover, te umanga huriao matua mō ngā kākahu kanikani, ko tōna aronga matua ko ngā kākahu mō te kanikani ōkawa me te kanikani o nāianei. Ka whakakite ai ngā mahi a Rosemary ki te puka Vogue Weddings me te hōtaka Come Dancing. I Rānana, i hanga, ā, i whakaāhua i ētahi kākahu mō ngā whakaari.

I Aotearoa, kua mahikuhu a Rosemary hei kaihuatau mō ngā whakatairanga pouaka whakaata.  Kua mahi anō ia hei kaihoahoa kākahu whakaari mō ētahi kiriata huriao pēnei i a The Warriors Way. Kua whakakite ia i te pouaka whakaata i te hōtaka Home Front, hei tohunga whakarawe, anō hoki hei kaiwaihanga pūtaketake mō te New Zealand design companies Workshop me Sera Lily.

Ko te umanga o Rosemary, ka aro atu ki ngā kākahu mārena, whakaari, motuhake anō hoki. He kaitohutohu, he kaiwaihanga anō ia mō te umanga Yvonne Bennetti, he umanga mō ngā kākahu hāneanea mō te wahine. Ka aru a Rosemary  ki te whakakākahu i te tangata kia māia, kia taiea.

Rosemary Whitehead is a professionally trained couturier and dress designer with 35 years’ experience working in both the high-level fashion and costume design industries. Rosemary trained at the New Zealand College of Fashion Design, graduating with the internationally recognised Druleigh Diploma and Diploma for Pattern Making. She also studied corsetry at the Wimbledon School of Art and Design, and millinery at the London College of Fashion Design.

In London, Rosemary was employed as a production assistant for high-end Kensington couturier Ritva Westenius, after which she was head of production for the Events Bridalwear company. She then worked as head designer for Chrisanne Clover, the leading international dance wear company, specialising in ballroom and modern dance. Rosemary’s works frequently featured in Vogue Weddings, and on the famed television show Come Dancing. While in London, Rosemary also developed and designed for theatrical works.

In New Zealand, Rosemary has freelanced as a stylist for television commercials and has worked as a costume designer for international films including The Warrior’s Way. She also appeared on Television New Zealand’s Home Front make-over series as the furnishings specialist and worked as a pattern-designer for the New Zealand design companies Workshop and Sera Lily.

Rosemary’s business specialises in bridal wear, costumes, and bespoke wear. She also advises and designs for luxury womenswear company Yvonne Bennetti. ‘Rosemary is consistently striving to give people the confidence to look and feel great.’

Ngaronoa Renata (Ngāpuhi nui tonu Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa)

I tipu te aroha i roto i a au mō te toikupu mai au e pūhou ana. I taku utu tuatahi i a au e rangatahi ana, i hoko au i tētahi kape o Roget’s Thesaurus ki te āwhina i taku tito toikupu. Mai tēnā ka tipu te whakamatemate ki roto i a au mō ngā reo tāukiuki, pēnei i te reo Māori, Sanskrit, Hīperu me te reo Ārapi. I te tau 1989, i hūnuku mātou ko tōku punua whānau ki Waikato mai i Kaeo, i Te Tai Tokerau.  Tōku whenua rangatira. 

I uru atu au ki te wānanga, He Tuatoatanga, me tētahi mystery school tauiwi. (he kaupapa pīnakitanga), kei Waikato ēnei kura. I reira, ka para au i te huarahi ki te wānanga i ngā reo tāukiuki me te māramatanga pūtaiao. E mahara ana au ki tōku pāpā e whaikōrero ana i te marae, i roto i te reo.  I tangi pai au i te rongohanga i te tangi o te reo, titi tonu ki te ngākau. I ahu mai a Estrella i ngā akoranga tohunga.

Ka whakanui au i tōku whakapapa Ngāpuhi mai i a Tuhikura me tōku whakapapa  Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa mai i a Turikatuku.

From an early age, I developed a love of poetry and words. When I received my first pay as a teenager, I bought a copy of Roget’s Thesaurus to assist my own poetic writings. That led to a curiosity in ancient languages such as Māori, Sanskrit, Hebrew and Arabic. In 1989, our little whānau moved to the Waikato from Kaeo, Northland, my Ngāpuhi ancestral home. 

I joined the Māori Spiritual Warrior School and a Western mystery school (Foundation for Higher Learning), which are both based in the Waikato. There, I took a journey of in-depth study of ancient sacred languages and wisdom science. I remember clearly when my father spoke on our marae in our reo (language). I wept when hearing the sound of our reo – it touched me profoundly. Estrella, comes from those esoteric teachings.

I acknowledge my Ngāpuhi lineage through Tuhikura and Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa through Turikatuku. 

Photo credit: Dominico Zapata