Words in Motion - New Zealand/Aotearoa

Featuring Mauri Ora

Four vocally energised poets and singers take up residence at Te Paepae. Apirana Taylor (Ngati Porou) is a Maori writer of impressive versatility and an international reputation, as a poet and storyteller. Troy Hunt performs as a musician and poet, along with his musician brother Luther Hunt.  Known for his music, Karl Teariki is also talented in the art of storytelling and performance.

Apirana Taylor
Apirana Taylor from the Ngati Porou, Te Whanau a Apanui, and Ngati Ruanui tribes, and also Pakeha heritage is a poet, playwright, novelist, short story writer, story teller, actor, painter, and musician. His
poems and short stories are frequently studied in schools at NCEA and tertiary level and his poetry and prose has been translated into several  languages. He has been Writer in Residence at Massey and Canterbury Universities, Rangi Ruru, St Andrews College and Hagley High School.

He has been invited several times to India and Europe to read his poetry and tell his stories, and to Natiional and International festivals. Apirana travels to schools, tertiary institutions and prisons throughout NZ to read his poetry, tell his stories, and take creative writing workshops. He is published
nationally and internationally. He lives in Paekakariki with his whanau.

Luther Hunt
While only 18 years old, Luther Hunt has already been recording and performing as a musician for years. He has recorded two albums and is about to release his own single. He is currently at Jazz school in Wellington.

Karl Teariki
Karl is of Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngati Raina ki Rarotonga, Ngatiarua ki Mauke, Pape no’o I Tahiti. He is a musician at heart having being involved in the recording industry from an early age. Karl studied classical cello as a youngster and began playing guitar when he was eight years old. He released his first album He Taonga in 1990 with a recording grant from Toi Māori Aotearoa’s music committee, Puatatangi. He spent time with the Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre as a musician before continuing to study music at Whitireia Polytechnic in Porirua, where he graduated with an Advanced Certificate of Rock and Jazz styles and a Diploma in Commercial Music.

With a deep passion for his Polynesian heritage, his current area of research draws on the inspiration, stories and philosophies that aid him compose music that incorporates the past into the present. Karl was appointed a Kai Turuki by Dr Rangimarie Turuki Rose Pere and is qualified to deliver the two day introductory Te Wheke wananga - a model for total well being.

Karl is also skilled in Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa and creates sounds with them that are as unique as his abilities. He has worked in a number of bands over the years covering a wide variety of music genre and is competent in delivering jazz fusion, blues, afro Cuban /Latin, pop, Celtic, classical, rock, folk, techno, electronica, and reggae.