Waiata Mai concert dazzles spectators

Dave Dobbyn,Troy Kingi, Maisey Rika and Tami Neilson at the Waiata Mai concert on Saturday night. Photo/Andy Dowding

Havelock North was alive with the sound of music during a performance by acclaimed artists on Saturday night.

Seven top Kiwi musicians played at Black Barn Amphitheatre before a crowd of about 1200 for the inaugural Waiata Mai concert.

Dave Dobbyn, Anika Moa, Maisey Rika, Tami Neilson, Rob Ruha, Troy Kingi and Teeks came together to sing well-known hits and some Maori anthems.

One of the organisers, singer Hinewehi Mohi, said everyone enjoyed a dazzling summer night under the stars watching very talented artists.

"It was amazing, the weather was a blinder.

"I think it was everything we hoped it would be in terms of it being a quite unifying concert.

"It was really quite emotional."

Dave Dobbyn became "choked up" when he sung the Maori version of his hit Welcome Home (Nau Mai Ra).

"It was emotional to be able to perform with everyone."

The concert was unique and nothing like this had been done before, she said.

"The level of aroha, sharing and caring.

"It was a musical night of greatness.

"I would love to think that this would be something that would be done again."

The artists were welcomed to Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Wananga Whare Tapere o Takitimu with a powhiri on Friday afternoon before rehearsals commenced.

The concert included more than two hours of family musical entertainment with a playlist that included much-loved songs such as Dreams in my head (Anika Moa), Slice of heaven and a new Maori version of Welcome Home/Nau Mai Ra (Dave Dobbyn) and Holy Moses (Tami Neilson) plus well-known Maori anthems Pokarekare Ana and Hine e Hine.

St Joseph's Maori Girls' College Choir and local kapa haka Kahurangi also joined the artists on stage.