Matariki Whatarau Explained

Matariki Whatarau
Instrument:guitar, vocals, cajón
Occupation:actor, musician
Genre:Māori Showband, comedy, drama, theatre
Associated Acts:Modern Māori Quartet
Birth Place:Auckland, New Zealand

Matariki Whatarau is a New Zealand actor and musician. Whatarau is also a founding member of 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]

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] [4] Whatarau co-hosted Māori Television's My Party Song as part of the Modern Māori Quartet.[5] In 2018, Matariki, along with other members of the Modern Māori Quartet, began touring their cabaret show Modern Māori Quartet: Two Worlds.[6]

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.[7] Whatarau is a graduate of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School (Te Kura Toi Whakaari ō Aotearoa) earning a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting) in 2009.[8]

Career

Theatre

Whatarau performed in the theatre shows, Awhi Tapu and Party with the Aunties.[9] [10] In January 2020, Whatarau performed in, Modern Māori Quartet: Two Worlds, at the Off-Broadway theatre, SoHo Playhouse.[11]

Film and television

Whatarau had a leading role as 'Tau', in the NZ film The Pā Boys, alongside fellow Modern Māori Quartet band member Francis Kora.[12] 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).[13] Matariki, and the other members of the Modern Māori Quartet, served as the in-house band on Māori Television’s variety show, Happy Hour (2014).[14] He also acted in some of the shows comedy sketches.

Music

Whatarau is a member of Māori showband the Modern Māori Quartet, alongside Maaka Pohatu, Francis Kora and James Tito.[15]

Personal life

Matariki is a fluent speaker of Mandarin.[16]

Discography

Notes and References

  1. News: Is the Modern Maori Quartet New Zealand's next big thing?. The New Zealand Herald. 7 September 2017. 28 December 2019.
  2. Web site: That's Us! Modern Māori Quartet . The Big Idea . 19 September 2017. 28 December 2019.
  3. MatarikiWhatarau,Web site: Matariki Whatarau. nzonscreen.co.nz . 28 December 2019.
  4. News: Staff . The Pa Boys: Lights, camera ... reggae . NZ Herald . en-NZ.
  5. Web site: My Party Song. Māori Television. 28 December 2019.
  6. Web site: Modern Māori Quartet:Two Worlds. witnessperformance.com. 11 July 2019. 28 December 2019.
  7. News: Matariki Whatarau. eko.theatre. 28 December 2019.
  8. Web site: Toi Whakaari Graduates. Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. 15 February 2019. 28 December 2019.
  9. Web site: Downstage & Taki Rua Productions present Awhi Tapu. creativenz.govt.nz. 29 June 2011. 24 December 2019.
  10. Web site: A Marevllous Party with the Aunties. theatrereview.org.nz. 28 November 2011. 24 December 2019.
  11. News: Leeds . Ryan . Māoris Make Musical Merriment at Soho Playhouse . Manhattan Digest . 14 January 2020.
  12. News: The Pā Boys. nzonscreen.com. 24 December 2019.
  13. News: Find Me a Māori Bride. tvnz.co.nz. 28 December 2019.
  14. Web site: Temuera Morrison's Happy Hour. stuff.co.nz. Bess Manson. 2 September 2014.
  15. News: 5 Questions with the Modern Māori Quartet. The New Zealand Herald. 9 August 2017. 27 March 2019.
  16. News: Modern Maori Quartet sing their way to Uzbekistan. stuff.co.nz. 2 August 2015. Laura Walters.