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hinemoana baker - writer, musician, producer

Ngati Raukawa - Ngati Tukorehe; Ngati Toa Rangatira; Te Ati Awa - Ngati Mutunga, Ngati Tama;

Kai Tahu - Kati Moki Tuarua; Ngati Kiritea - England, Deutschland/Tiamani

'She is the daughter of an ex-Maori All Black dad and a mother who descends from Bavarian goat-herds known for their yodelling. She asserts that neither the yodelling nor the sporting gene have surfaced in her so far.'    (Queensland Poetry Festival 2006 website)

It's true that her shows are loved by those who love language - in particular Te Reo Maori and the impactful, no-waste language of poetry - but it's Hinemoana's voice that draws most of her audience: She's a singer's singer:

        'It's a fine wine of a voice...the sort you might buy once in a lifetime, just for

        a taste of how the other half lives...'
        (Nelson Evening Mail)

        'Her voice was at times haunting and eerie, at other times breathy and

         whispery. Some songs had an easy sweetness, others were declamatory and staunch.'
         (Golden Bay Weekly)

Hinemoana says her varying creative pursuits 'are really just story-telling - coupled with a passion for sound. The sound of words, music, waiata tawhito, my diving gear, whatever. It's just the delivery mechanism that changes.'

It was a more traditional kind of story-telling that kicked things off for Hinemoana in the early 90's - a tour around Northland with four-woman story-telling ensemble 'Te Torino'. Since then Hinemoana's sung Pink Floyd covers in a Lower Hutt pub residency, made radio documentaries for National Radio, written plays in Maori and English, scripted short films about Maori and photography in the 19th century and completed a Masters in Creative Writing.

These days you'll find Hinemoana writing poems and songs at her home in Paekakariki, giving readings and workshops at writing festivals or performing live on stages around New Zealand - and more recently, in Australia and Indonesia. Her 'story-telling' now includes poems, percussive guitar, family anecdotes, challenging melodies, traditional Maori taonga puoro and a variety of other 'instruments' (sometimes a digital looping pedal and a scuba tank, for example). She often performs with photographer and sound engineer Andrew Dalziel, who mixes her sound and his visual imagery live during the show:

          'This was an utterly spellbinding performance.'
           (Oamaru Mail)

          'You have been warned of a major talent.'
           (NZ Herald)

Hinemoana's writing has been published in anthologies and in the online literary journal 'Turbine' (2002, 2003, 2004, 2007). Her popular poem 'A Walk With Your Father' was chosen for 'Best New Zealand Poems 2004', and the love poem 'One' for 'Best New Zealand Poems 2006'.

In March 2006 Hinemoana was one of 12 musicians chosen to honour the work of celebrated New Zealand poet Hone Tuwhare. She performed alongside Don McGlashan, Goldenhorse, Wai 100%, Charlotte Yates, Mahinarangi Tocker and Fat Freddy's singer Dallas Tamaira (to name a few) at the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts.

Hinemoana's debut album 'puawai' was a finalist for Best Folk Album, New Zealand Music Awards (2004) and Best Maori Language song in the prestigious APRA Silver Scroll Awards (Maioha category, 2005).

          'A must-have piece of New Zealand.'
           (Air New Zealand Magazine)

The manuscript she completed for her Masters eventually became her first book of poems 'matuhi | needle', launched in 2004. The manuscript garnered international attention from 'Rings' star Viggo Mortensen, who's publishing house Perceval Press (Santa Monica, US) designed and published the book in partnership with Victoria University Press (Wellington). 'matuhi' is a sumptuous production featuring full colour paintings by Ngai Tahu artist Jenny Rendall. It is a beautiful book of poems about finding your way in the world - Bill Manhire called it 'a very handsome Global Positioning System'.

           '...a CD recording of Baker reading a few of her poems is pocketed in the back of the book. It
            reveals that she has a remarkable voice, velvety and musical, cool and laconic all at once. This
            sensuousness is reflected in the verse, but...undercut by a sense of smouldering emotion

            (resentment perhaps)...'
            (New Zealand Listener)

Hinemoana's live shows feature songs and poems  from her book 'matuhi', her album 'puawai' and her upcoming  album (as yet untitled), written on a winter songwriting retreat in Waikanae, Matariki 2006.

christine 'the band' white

Kai Tahu; Ngati Pakeha

 Hinemoana is often accompanied on guitar, vocals, looping pedal and wow factor by her partner, singer-songwriter Christine White. Those who've enjoyed Christine's gigs in Auckland and the rest of New Zealand over the last 20 years will testify that Christine's live performances have to be seen to be believed. An accomplished composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist, Christine has also been honing her production and recording skills: she has three albums to her name (most recently 'Pirouette'), plus a long list of composing credits for other artists and organisations.

        '...with vocal power, presence and songs others would kill for...'
         (New Zealand Herald)

        '...cut from the same cloth as any of Neil Finn's best...'
         (New Zealand Musician magazine)

Christine moved to Wellington in 2005,  and her well-deserved reputation is already growing at this end of the island. She performs live at various Wellington and Kapiti venues, among them Bar Bodega and Katipo Cafe in Wellington, and Lembas Cafe in Raumati South.  She toured nationwide in 2005 to celebrate the launch of 'Pirouette', and more recently to Nelson and Golden Bay.

Christine's current passion is her degree in Sonic Arts and New Music (think John Cage, Laurie Anderson, David Downes, John Cousins). Christine won the New Zealand School of Music Composer's Competition 2008, and has just completed a qualificiation in sonic arts through Victoria University. Her enthusiasm for new music has led her to building a new, melodic percussion instrument using an old Black and Decker workbench and some contact microphones. The onstage effect can be anything from eerie hums and haunting whistles to funky, industrial beats and metallic tick-tocking. As usual, Christine and her instruments make a huge and impressive impact on audiences - she is, musically at least, always much larger than the sum of her parts!