logo
Mana Moana Wellington Shows With Signature Choir And NZSO Now Sold Out

Mana Moana Wellington Shows With Signature Choir And NZSO Now Sold Out

Scoop4 days ago
Wellington has again embraced the hit show Mana Moana and its spectacular fusion of symphony and songs of the Pacific.
Both performances by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the 50-strong Wellington-based Signature Choir this Thursday and Friday at the Michael Fowler Centre are sold out.
Mana Moana celebrates two worlds of music, with the NZSO led by acclaimed conductor Brent Stewart, and each performance hosted by talented actor and comedian Tofiga Fepulea'i.
'We are incredibly humbled and grateful to return home to two sold-out shows,' says Signature Choir Founder and Music Director Helen Tupai.
'After selling out back-to-back performances at the iconic Sydney Opera House in June, coming back to where our Mana Moana journey began and reuniting with the world-class NZSO is the perfect way to close our 2025 Mana Moana season. These sold-out shows are a testament to our communities' unwavering support, and we cannot wait to put on an unforgettable homecoming show!'
Following 2022's sensational debut in Wellington and a hit performance with the NZSO in Auckland in 2023, Mana Moana reached new heights this year with a second show at Auckland's Spark Arena in May. Sydney audiences loved every minute of the choir's historic performances with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra last month.
'What an incredible performance! The energy in the room was electric. So privileged to experience this iconic moment,' an audience member told ABC Pacific.
Wellington audiences on 24 and 25 July will again experience an energetic, unique, and emotional celebration, bringing traditional and contemporary songs from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.
The exciting music selection blends beloved favourites from the previous shows with fresh new arrangements, offering an even richer experience for audiences. The stunning mix of traditional and contemporary songs includes the Samoan classic Manu o le Vaveao, Nepituno —written by Queen Salote Tupou III to commemorate the 1953 Royal Tour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's visit to Tonga—and an exhilarating medley featuring some of the most iconic Fijian songs, and much more.
In 2022 a collaborative journey between the NZSO and Signature Choir to celebrate and promote the languages and stories of Pasifika. Their aim was to create high-quality audio recordings and videos of Pasifika songs in partnership with RNZ.
This was then followed by a live performance at the Michael Fowler Centre where audience-recorded videos from the show have accumulated in over 1 million views on social media, highlighting the massive impact Mana Moana had and resulted in an incredible musical experience in 2023 and 2025 at Spark Arena.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Use of natural fibres impresses design award judges
Use of natural fibres impresses design award judges

Otago Daily Times

time3 hours ago

  • Otago Daily Times

Use of natural fibres impresses design award judges

The garments submitted for the 2025 MLT Hokonui Fashion Design Awards show a strong use of natural fibres and unconventional materials, judges say. After going through more than 200 entries for the awards, the judges said they were impressed by the calibre of ideas this year. The two-day event started last night at the Gore Town & Country Stadium with a catwalk show of all designs. The awards will be announced tonight. The judges this year are former Viva Magazine fashion and creative director Dan Ahwa, Natalie Newlands of Queenstown-based brand New Lands Studio, and Biddie Cooksley of Tuesday Label. On Thursday, Mr Ahwa said it was great to see new designers using natural textiles this round, which he appreciated and which boded well for the future of the industry. "I think we're in a state in the industry where it's so confronting to see so much synthetic fibres around and, obviously, it's ultra-fast fashion," he said. "It's really promising for the future of the event to see designers thinking about the materials that they're using." Ms Newlands said in judging the garments she was looking for construction, storytelling, cohesion, an overall "feeling" and something that was not overly "done". She also appreciated the natural fibres used, particularly the use of wool and heavy linens, which she said hung beautifully with more of a focus on draping or old sewing techniques. "It's got a bit of weight to it and that changes the form hugely rather than using a synthetic, which might be quite light and breezy," she said. Ms Newlands said she had also seen really "practical" and "brilliant" uses of repurposed materials in a way that was refreshing. "Instead of putting sustainable, repurposed materials into something that's quite bizarre, it's actually like, 'hey, let's wear this every day'," she said. Ms Cooksley said the three of them had been in sync for the majority of their decisions but disagreeing and arguing over a particular design had also been fun. Having overlapping but different perspectives had given their selections a broader view, she said. "That makes it more objective." "But what it comes down to is an arm wrestle at the end of the day," Mr Ahwa said. The awards have seven general sections, four school sections and 11 special awards, each with prize money and, in some cases, a trophy and sewing machine up for grabs. The top award of the night, the "Open Section award of excellence", boasts a $16,500 prize package.

Porirua Has Talent Tickets Available Now
Porirua Has Talent Tickets Available Now

Scoop

time14 hours ago

  • Scoop

Porirua Has Talent Tickets Available Now

Sensational singers, gravity defying dancers and multi-talented musicians are bringing their A-game to the Porirua Has Talent finals on Saturday 16 August at Te Rauparaha Arena 10.30am. Event organiser Tania Carr says tickets are available now at they're free for everyone under 25 and just $15 for adults. 'I'm so excited about the finals this year. We saw some really innovative and exciting new performers at the auditions and then we also welcomed back some of the standout acts from last year. There were several 'pinch-me' moments and more than a few tears with some very moving performances… but you'll have to come and see for yourself!' Ms Carr says that many of the contestants have never had the confidence to perform in front of anyone other than families or friends before and that Porirua Has Talent creates a space for that. Porirua Has Talent contestants say: 'This gives us the chance to showcase our self-taught talent and show people that you can do what you put your mind to.' 'It's always been my dream to perform in something and now I finally get to.' 'I would like to do something more for me as a performer and to improve, gain experience and more knowledge and confidence in performance, specifically as a young Pasifika person.' 'We feel like we have created something really special in Porirua, and we want to share it with the whole community,' says Ms Carr. Judges for the finals are NZ Alt Country Singer/Songwriter Ainslie Allen, Fredwyn Kisona of Tomorrow People, talented dancer and choreographer Aroha Davidson and singer/MC Nathan Lopa. 'We are so lucky that our judges are also going to perform for us on the day,' says Ms Carr. Tickets are available to the finals at Kai and snacks will be provided to all those attending the event.

King of island reggae George ‘Fiji' Veikoso remembered as a Pacific reggae trailblazer
King of island reggae George ‘Fiji' Veikoso remembered as a Pacific reggae trailblazer

NZ Herald

time15 hours ago

  • NZ Herald

King of island reggae George ‘Fiji' Veikoso remembered as a Pacific reggae trailblazer

Pome'e is the lead singer for South Auckland reggae band Three Houses Down. He shared memories with the Herald about growing up with his brothers listening to international reggae icons Bob Marley and UB40 - before a new voice entered their home when Fiji released his Born & Raised album in 1996. 'In my mind, I just thought that no one does reggae unless you're from Jamaica. But when I saw that album cover... I was thinking: 'No way. This guy's from Fiji'. 'Listening to the songs - instantly, it was like: 'Holy heck. Our Polynesian people can do this'. He gave us hope from a young age - this is doable.' Pome'e talked of the uniquely Pacific sound Fiji brought to the world of reggae in the 1990s. 'It was something fresh. Being a Polynesian, he knew of the sound as Polynesians - the Pacific sound,' he said. A special power with the crowd 'As soon as that drum roll starts, you gravitate towards it because that's our sound. I just couldn't believe there was a Pacific Islander doing reggae.' Fijian music legend George 'Fiji' Veikoso had died at the age of 55. Photo / @FijiTheArtist As the frontman of his own band, Pome'e said he studied Fiji's stage presence and how he interacted with the crowd. One memorable moment was at the One Love Festival in Tauranga, in 2017, when Fiji took to the stage and spontaneously called on the crowd to join him in singing Māori waiata: E Papa Waiari. Video footage showed the masses singing: 'E papa waiari, taku nei mahi, taku nei mahi, he tuku roimata. 'E aue, e aue. Ka mate au. E hine, hoki mai ra.' The spontaneous show of harmony brought people in the crowd to tears. Fiji's spontaneous sing-along with the crowd at the One Love Festival in 2017 was a highlight that year. Photo / George Novak Pome'e said it was that special quality that Fiji had - and which many others could not duplicate. The voice of the Pacific 'One thing I learned from him... he was unpredictable. He had this special power where he read the crowd. 'It's not just about playing the songs. It's reading the crowd, being with the crowd, playing what the crowd wants and interacting. 'You can stop the band whenever you want or point someone out who's not dancing.' As well as writing and composing his own songs, Fiji also covered songs in Pacific languages - turning them into his own. Among those is his hugely popular rendition of the Samoan ballad Sosefina, written by Fafo Aulalo, of one of Samoa's most loved old school bands: Tiama'a. 'He was the voice of the Pacific - literally. He would take time to learn Tongan and Samoan songs,' Pome'e said. Speaking on the way Fiji operated in the recording studio, Pome'e said it was Fiji that showed him the need to truly connect with the words behind a song. 'Even to a point where do you ever wonder what the composer was going through at this time? 'He would really take you into that space. He wanted you to sing it and imagine what the composer was going through - how crushed his heart was when this happened. 'So when he educated you in the studio and you come back and listen to all his music, it hits different.' Pome'e, who is also a presenter for radio station Flava, shared a heartfelt on-air tribute to the legend he got to create and perform music with, and know as a mentor and family friend. 'Fij, thank you for the songs that got me through the hard days and made the good ones even better,' he said, his voice breaking. 'I'm so grateful for the way your music made me feel. You gave me more than music. You gave us hope, truth and something real to hold on to. 'Thank you for leading the way and lighting the way for all Poly artists like me. Your gift to the world became a gift to my life - and I'll never forget that.' Vaimoana Mase is the Pasifika editor for the Herald's Talanoa section, sharing stories from the Pacific community. She won junior reporter of the year at the then Qantas Media Awards in 2010 and won the best opinion writing award at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store