Matariki Whatarau
Matariki Whatarau [Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Whanaunga] is a New Zealand actor and musician. Whatarau is also a founding member of the Māori Showband the Modern Māori Quartet.[1] He co-wrote and performed songs, with the other band members, for the Modern Māori Quartet's debut album That's Us! (2017).[2]
Matariki Whatarau | |
---|---|
Born | Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand |
Genres | Māori Showband, comedy, drama, theatre |
Occupation(s) | actor, musician |
Instruments | guitar, vocals, cajón |
Associated acts | Modern Māori Quartet |
Whatarau appeared on the television programmes, Go Girls and Find me a Māori Bride. Whatarau also had a feature role in the film The Pā Boys (2014).[3] Whatarau co-hosted Māori Television's My Party Song as part of the Modern Māori Quartet.[4] In 2018, Matariki, along with other members of the Modern Māori Quartet, began touring their cabaret show Modern Māori Quartet: Two Worlds.[5]
Early life
Whatarau was born in Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau, New Zealand and is of Māori [Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Whanaunga] descent. Matariki attended high school in Beijing, China and in Lilongwe, Malawi.[6] Whatarau is a graduate of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School (Te Kura Toi Whakaari ō Aotearoa) earning a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting).[7]
Career
Theatre
Whatarau performed in the theatre shows, Awhi Tapu and Party with the Aunties. [8] [9] In January 2020, Whatarau performed in, Modern Māori Quartet: Two Worlds, at the Off-Broadway theatre, SoHo Playhouse.
Film and Television
Whatarau had a leading role as 'Tau',in the NZ film The Pā Boys, along side fellow Modern Māori Quartet band member Francis Kora.[10] Whatarau also had supporting roles in the films The Dead Lands (2014) and Mahana (2016).[3] For 2 seasons, Matariki played, George Alpert, in the Māori Television mockumentary series, Find Me a Māori Bride (2015-2017).[11]
Music
Whatarau is a member of the Māori showband the Modern Māori Quartet, alongside Maaka Pohatu, Francis Kora and James Tito.[12]
Personal life
Matariki is a fluent speaker of Mandarin.[13]
Discography
- Happy Hour (2014)
- That's Us! (2017)
References
- "Is the Modern Maori Quartet New Zealand's next big thing?". nzherald.co.nz. 7 September 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- "That's Us! Modern Māori Quartet". The Big Idea. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- MatarikiWhatarau,"Matariki Whatarau". nzonscreen.co.nz. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- "My Party Song". Māori Television. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- "Modern Māori Quartet:Two Worlds". witnessperformance.com. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- "Matariki Whatarau". eko.theatre. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- "Toi Whakaari Graduates". Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- "Downstage & Taki Rua Productions present Awhi Tapu". creativenz.govt.nz. 29 June 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- "A Marevllous Party with the Aunties". theatrereview.org.nz. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- "The Pā Boys". nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- "Find Me a Māori Bride". tvnz.co.nz. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- "5 Questions with the Modern Māori Quartet". nzherald.co.nz. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- Laura Walters (2 August 2015). "Modern Maori Quartet sing their way to Uzbekistan". stuff.co.nz.