Mahina-Ina Kingi-Kaui on Taonga Pūoro
Mahina-Ina Kingi-Kaui is a talented recording artist, composer, and accomplished player and practitioner of Ngā Taonga Pūoro – Māori traditional instruments. She features on numerous projects and collaborations, both nationally and internationally.
Mahina has produced and co-produced many albums and was nominated as a finalist in the 2001 NZ Music Tui Awards for a recording called Dance With the Wind – Te Karakia, Big Belly Woman. Her second album, Dignity – Ko Tapu Au, Tu Rangatira was launched at Parihaka Peace Festival in 2007.
Mahina has featured many times with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, played Taonga Pūoro for Tūmahana, Director/Writer Juanita Hepi (Ngati Wheke), and has performed widely with groups and projects such as Te Ahikaaroa Kapa Haka, Te Tau Hou Matariki 2022, The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, Pohutukawa, Pouataata (a 3 piece group), the Christchurch Art Gallery’s Te Wheke Exhibition 2022, and Te Pou o Te Rongo Māori Youth Peace Symposium 2022.
Mahina has played Taonga Pūoro and co-composed the sound track music for the film Koreporepo by Kathleen Gallagher for the International Film Festival, 2022. Manawhenua Taonga Pūoro project for Manatū Māori - NZ Arts and Heritage, Music and Memory concerts with Robert Oliver and Palister Viols 2023, Te Papa Matariki Haumanu Collective 2023, and Chamber Music NZ’s Hine Hoia 2023 tour. She also composed a work for Tirama Mai 2023, and co-composed a piece with Dr. Reuben de Lautour for the University of Canterbury’s 150 year celebration concert with the CSO in 2023.
Mahina is currently collaborating on projects with Daniel Belton (Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Extreme Reality project), and works with Chisnallwood Intermediate School Music Department to deliver Taonga Pūoro and create a Taonga Pūoro Orchestra. She is also working on a new album that is dedicated to her love of Ngā Taonga Pūoro, as well as orchestral music and Dub-fusions. Her compositions reflect her passion for her culture, the environment, life experiences, the affairs of the heart and global issues that are affecting all nations of the world.