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Contributor


Ngatai Huata

Composer, Arranger, Performer, Māori Composer

Biography

Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi - Tākitimu Waka, Rongomaiwahine

A mokopuna uri of Tamatea Arikinui, Rangatira of Tākitimu waka, Ruawharo tohunga of Tākitimu waka, down through Kahungunu eponymous ancestor of Ngāti Kahungunu and Rongomaiwahine ancestress rangatira of Ngai Rongomaiwahine tribe.

Grand-daughter of the editor, writer, author and prolific composer, songwriter Paraire Henare Tomoana whom composed 'Pokarekare Ana', 'Hoea rā', 'Tahi nei Taru Kino'; and daughter of Canon Wi Te Tau Huata, a prolific kapa haka, hīmene, composer and songwriter. Some of his compositions include 'Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi', 'AEIOU', 'Whakaaria Mai' to name a few.

Ngatai Huata attributes her music song writing and composer skills, as inherent in her DNA from birth with her ancestors, whakapapa (genealogy) from Ruawharo and Tamatea Arikinui.

Ngatai has been a prolific, composer, singer- songwriter, published author, musician, producer, music director, vocal director for the past 50 years.

From the age of 9 years, Ngatai's father put her into classical pianoforte studies which she acquired grade 6 theory and grade 8 practical.

Ngatai has written, composed, produced, directed up to 200 waiata, hīmene, haka and wānanga including film sound track to 'KAHU & MAIA' by playwriter Karen Sidney.

Ngatai has also produced 30 albums including a series of kete wānanga from her studies in Te Tohu Paetahi o Te Haka a Tane Rore - Bachelor of Māori Performing Arts (BMPA), and Masters Matauranga Māori (MMM) from Te Wānanga o Raukawa (incomplete).

The albums include six Black Katz Albums - 'Black Katz goes Gambling'; 'Black Katz goes Devolution'; 'Black Katz Salutes the 28th Maori Battalion Ko Wai Ka Hua', then 'Black Katz goes Pounamu - Best of Album' and 'Black Katz goes Paua - Waiata Oke' of selected waiata for Black Katz line-up only.

Ngatai also produced a whānau (family) album of mother and daughters, son and mokopuna called 'Kia arearae ai tō taringa'. The songs were written composed, performed and recorded by 1m+3d+1s=NHW Music. This also included a double album by Ngā Whetu (Ngatai & Whetu) 'Whakapapa & kaupapa' and a series of Kete Wānanga.

Through akoranga studies of the BMPA and MMM, Ngatai wrote all her assignments in waiata form and then produced and published a series of kete wānanga, which to date have included - Ngā Whetu - Te Kete Tuawha; Te Whare Tangata - Te Kete Tuarima, Te Whare Kōrero - Te Kete Tuaono; Ngā Haka ā Kahungunu - Te Kete Tuawhitu.

A series of waiata video's were also produced alongside the albums being produced including: 'Aotearoa', 'Devolution', 'Tangaroa', 'Mohaka' and 'Pepi Kehokeho.'

Black Katz, Ngā Whetu and NHW Music still perform at kaupapa Māori gigs.

Black Katz were part of the 'spearhead' of 'trail-blazing' Kaupapa Māori Puoro Waiata / Music from the 1970's.