Joshua Stowers, a New Zealand DJ, died at his Te Kauwhata home on November 7.
New Zealand DJ Joshua Tavita Stowers is being remembered as someone with a presence that could shift “a whole room”.
Stowers died unexpectedly last Friday, November 7, aged 45, after a medical event at his home in Te Kauwhata.
He left behind his son Tavita, his fiancee Kiri Marshall, his parents David and Lois, and his sisters Jewels, Nikita and May.
Marshall, originally from Rotorua, told the Waikato Herald Stowers’ death left a huge hole in the hearts of many people.
“I’ve never met anyone with so many friends.
“He made everybody feel seen and was always there for everybody.
“He was larger than life, loud and full of energy.
“He was beautiful and so cool. You know the feeling when you look at someone and go ‘wow, they are cool’? That was Josh.
“He ... had the kind of presence that shifted a whole room.
“When Josh walked in, everything just got more fun.”
Stowers, of Samoan, Māori and Scottish descent, grew up in Waikato.
He went to Fraser High School in Hamilton before studying a Bachelor of Business at the University of Waikato.
For his final year of study, he went to UC Berkeley in the US.
It was in America, during a snowboarding trip to Lake Tahoe, that he discovered DJ-ing.
He purchased some turntables and started playing at house parties, first in America, then in New Zealand, before receiving gigs at local clubs and festivals.
He also became involved in radio work, including for stations George FM, Base FM and 95bFM.
As Mixmaster, a name inspired by a contributing member of the hip-hop group Beastie Boys, Mix Master Mike, Stowers was also DJ-ing at private events, functions and weddings in New Zealand.
Since 2021, his Mixmaster business has grown to a team of 97 DJs nationwide, has featured prominently in numerous awards, including the NZ Wedding Industry Awards, scooping “Best DJ Company” in 2022 and 2023 and being highly commended in the Couples Choice category this year.
Marshall said music had always been a part of Stowers’ life.
“He was music. [Joshua] started to play the bagpipes with his grandparents as a kid ... and he was in a hardcore band in his youth.”
She said he had a large record collection and was one of the last DJs in New Zealand who still used vinyl record turntables.
He had a profound knowledge of music of all kinds, although 90s hip-hop held a special place in his heart.
“He loved Black Moon... Wu-Tang Clan, 2Pac and Biggie, but he also loved cheesy British 80s pop and new wave, punk rock and hardcore.
“Our son, Tavita, loves Taylor Swift, so he sucked it up and became a Swiftie.”
The only thing he didn’t know much about was music for children, Marshall said, which caused a moment of panic when Stowers was put in charge of the music at his son’s primary school disco.
“He had no idea what to play for the children – I’ve never seen him panic this much in my life.”
In the end, Marshall was able to save the day with music she had saved on her iPad.
Aside from music, Stowers had a keen interest in barbecuing, but above all things were his family.
This was also evident from Stowers’ public Facebook profile, where nearly every post was a tribute to his family, Marshall said.
She said their son Tavita, 6, had been his everything.
“It’s so important for me that Tavita knows how much his dad loved him and how proud he was of him.
“Tavita was Josh’s whole world. There was no one who loved this little boy more than him. He called him Atali’i o le la, son of the sun, he had it tattooed on his arm.
“He never said no [to Tavita]. My colleagues at work used to joke that while I was at the office, Josh and Tavita were probably at Rainbow’s End instead of school.”
However, Marshall said she also knew Stowers loved her deeply.
“He was my biggest fan and fiercest protector.
“And he was my best friend, the love of my life.”
Since his death, Marshall has been flooded with messages and support, not only from family and friends, but also from the Te Kauwhata community and from people she hasn’t met, but who knew Stowers.
“It gives me so much hope for the future ... hope that we can keep going.
“You’ve got to live a legacy to leave a legacy and that’s exactly what Josh has done.”
Stowers’ father David has set up a Givealittle page to raise funds to help cover essential funeral and associated costs.
Stowers’ funeral was held today at Hamilton Old Boys’ Rugby Club.
Danielle Zollickhofer is the Waikato news director and a multimedia journalist at the Waikato Herald. She joined NZME in 2021 and is based in Hamilton.