Tangata Tumatarau (magician) is self-taught. Photo / Supplied
By Mare Haimona-Riki of Maori Television
Api Wairau-Mason (Ngaāti Tūwharetoa, Te Atiawa, Mangaia) may very well be the only magician in the world who performs his mahi all in te reo Māori.
Mason, or tangata tumatarau (magician), is self-taught and learned most of what he knows primarily from
YouTube, but has recently found himself collaborating with well-known local magicians to add to his kete of tinihanga (basket of tricks).
"Lately, I've found myself around a whole bunch of Aotearoa magicians and they've been kind enough to give me a lot of knowledge from their time in this business and doing this mahi."
Much of Mason's work is used with only a deck of cards which is somewhat nostalgic for the Wellington-based father of five, who has fond memories of playing cards with his nan when he was younger, and it was always in te reo Māori.
