Kahurangi launches two new albums

Hawke's Bay Opera House.

Hawke's Bay's international performing arts company Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre marked its 30th anniversary with the launch of two albums at the Hawke's Bay Opera House in Hastings last night. The albums, Whakairia Mai and Te Taumata, were recorded earlier this year and were revealed for the first time to about 100 guests at the launch.

Te Taumata is a "best of" album, the dance company's founder, Hastings man Tama Huata said. "We had current members of Kahurangi and a few members from the past involved in recording the album in Wellington. "And we have breathed new life into some of the older songs that we have done, we have refined them."

One of the songs, Aku Tipuna (my ancestors), was re-recorded for the Nga Pou o Heretaunga project which stands at Hastings Civic Square. The project involved 18 pou, or carved figures, which represented as many ancestors from marae around Hastings.

Aku Tipuna originally came from an album of the same name released by Kahurangi about 20 years ago. It was further developed into a musical production inspired by the portraits of Ngati Kahungunu leaders photographed by Samuel Carnell between 1870 and 1906.

"We hope the song will inspire the rest of the iwi to get behind the project at the civic square and lead on to other initiatives hapu and marae can work on together," Mr Huata said.

Whakaria Mai refines the classics of Maori music and features a number of stand-out solo voices. Auckland-based performer Taisha Tari, originally from Napier, sings Whakaria Mai on the album of the same name as a tribute to the late Reverend Wiremu Wi Te Tau Huata. Singer Erena Tomoana, the great-grand daughter of well-known Kahungunu composer Paraire Tomoana, also features on the album. Paraire composed Pokarekare Ana and the war time song, E Pari Ra, and both were recorded on Whakaria Mai.