Mere Boynton | |
---|---|
Born | Mere Tokorahi Boynton |
Nationality | New Zealand |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1980s–present |
Notable work |
Mere Tokorahi Boynton is a New Zealand singer, producer, actor and dancer. She is best known for her role as Mavis in the film Once Were Warriors .
Boynton identifies with Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Ngāti Oneone and Ngāi Tūhoe iwi. She grew up in Te Tairāwhiti. [1]
Boynton trained in singing at the Conservatorium of Music in Wellington. [2]
Boynton played Mavis in the film Once Were Warriors. [2]
Boynton sang Gareth Farr's Te Papa, for the opening of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. She toured New Zealand in Michael Parmenter's dance opera Jerusalem and was in a te reo Māori version of TheMerchant of Venice, Te Tangata Whairawa o Weneti. [2]
In 2019, Boynton appeared in the premiere of Witi Ihimaera's show Witi's Wahine at the Tairawhiti Arts Festival. [3]
Boynton was appointed as Director Ngā Toi Māori for the New Zealand events organiser Tāwhiri in September 2020. Tāwhiri organises the New Zealand Festival of the Arts, Wellington Jazz Festival, and the Lexus Song Quest. [1]
In July 2021, Boynton was a soloist for the premiere of Matariki, composed by Gareth Farr and for which Boynton and Ariana Tikao wrote the words. [4] Matariki was performed by the NZSO in Auckland and Wellington, and was conducted by Gemma New. [4]
In Māori culture, Matariki is the Pleiades star cluster and a celebration of its first rising in late June or early July. This marks the beginning of the new year in the Māori lunar calendar.
Gareth Vincent Farr is a New Zealand composer and percussionist. He has released a number of classical CDs and composed a number of works performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) and Royal New Zealand Ballet. He has also performed in drag under the name Lilith LaCroix in a show called Drumdrag and has also released a CD under that name.
Shona Rapira Davies is a sculptor and painter of Ngātiwai ki Aotea tribal descent. Currently residing in Wellington New Zealand.
Jolene Douglas is a contemporary New Zealand Māori artist who has been exhibiting since 1983. Two of her art works are in the collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. She is currently living in Gisborne and been a curator Tairawhiti Museum since 1995. Douglas was born in 1950 in Matamata, New Zealand.
Nancy Brunning was a New Zealand actress, director, and writer who won awards in film and television and made a major contribution to the growth of Māori in the arts. She won the best actress award at the New Zealand Film Awards for her lead role in the film What Becomes of the Broken Hearted? (1999). In 2000, she won the Best Actress in Drama award at the New Zealand Television Awards for her lead role in the television series Nga Tohu.
Wi Te Tau Pirika Taepa is a significant figure in contemporary New Zealand ceramics, and a leading figure in contemporary Māori clay art.
Maureen Robin Lander is a New Zealand weaver, multimedia installation artist and academic. Lander is a well-respected and significant Māori artist who since 1986 has exhibited, photographed, written and taught Māori art. She continues to produce and exhibit work as well as attend residencies and symposia both nationally and internationally.
Paerau Corneal is a New Zealand ceramicist of Tūwharetoa and Te Āti Haunui-a-Paparangi descent.
Colleen Elizabeth Waata-Urlich was a New Zealand ceramicist. Of Māori descent, she belonged to Te Popoto o Ngāpuhi ki Kaipara and Te Rarawa. Through education, involvement in Māori art collectives and production of exhibited work, Urlich was dedicated to the development of Māori art.
Kohai Grace is a New Zealand weaver. Her iwi are Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Porou, Te Āti Awa and Ngāti Raukawa.
Ngā Kaihanga Uku is a New Zealand collective of Māori Clayworkers. They formed in 1986 during a Ngā Puna Waihanga gathering, under the leadership of Baye Riddell and Manos Nathan. Founding members also include Paerau Corneal, Colleen Waata Urlich and Wi Taepa.
AotearoaNew Zealand Festival is a multi-arts biennial festival based in Wellington New Zealand that started in 1986. Previous names are the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts, New Zealand International Arts Festival, New Zealand Arts Festival and New Zealand Festival of the Arts. The festival is produced every two years and runs across three weeks in venues in Wellington City and outreach programmes in the region. The festival features both international and national acts from performing arts and music with a literary programme also.
Edna Pahewa is a New Zealand weaver and was the head of weaving at Te Rito, the weaving school of the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, for 18 years. Her work is held in the permanent collection of Te Papa.
Sonia Armana Snowden is a New Zealand Māori tohunga raranga who tutored in arts and weaving at Te Wananga o Raukawa. She identifies with the Ngāpuhi iwi. Her works are held in the collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Bethany Matai Edmunds is a New Zealand Māori weaver, textile artist, museum professional and hip hop lyricist. She is affiliated with Ngāti Kurī iwi. Her works are held in the collection of the Auckland City Gallery.
Diane Prince is a painter, weaver, installation art practitioner and set designer and affiliates to the Maori iwi Ngā Puhi and Ngāti Whātua from the north of New Zealand.
Raymond Henry "Sandy" Adsett is a New Zealand visual artist and educator. He is acknowledged for championing the art of kōwhaiwhai painting, creating a context for the artform within the development of contemporary Māori art.
The Kia Mau Festival, previously called Ahi Kaa Festival, is a biennial performing arts festival in Wellington, New Zealand. In te reo Māori, kia mau is "a call to stay - an invitation to join us".
Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival is an annual arts festival held in Gisborne, New Zealand. The festival is about celebrating the 'artistry, talent and storytelling' of the East Coast region.
Selwyn Frederick Muru, also known as Herewini Murupaenga, is a New Zealand artist of Māori descent. His life's work includes, painting, sculpture, journalism, broadcasting, directing, acting, set design, theatre, poetry and whaikōrero. Muru was awarded the Te Tohu Aroha mō Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu | Exemplary/Supreme Award in 1990 at the Creative New Zealand Te Waka Awards.