Ataahua Papa: New Zealand Maori Singing

Time: Saturday, 6/22. 2:15PM
Location: The Hawaiian Airlines Stage at Hudson River Park’s Pier 26

New Zealand Māori Ataahua Papa (Ata)
Waikato, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Koroki Kahukura.

Hālāwai and New York Outrigger are pleased to present Ata Papa on the Hawaiian Airlines Stage at the Liberty Festival in Hudson River Park’s Pier 26 as part of the 2013 Hawaiian Airlines Liberty Challenge on Saturday, June 22.

Ata is well versed in stage performance, with a background in traditional Māori Performing Arts and singing.  Ata has performed for many years with Māori Performing Arts groups in New Zealand –Kahurangi and Rangimārie – and has performed at festivals, schools and events in many venues in the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore,

South Korea, Mexico and has traveled the length and breadth of New Zealand, educating and entertaining audiences of all ages.  She holds a Bachelor degree in Performing Arts,  is a graduate of a traditional Māori weaponry school, is well versed in traditional protocols and customs of the Māori, has a high level of fluency in the Māori language and has developed “An Introduction to Māori Culture” lecture demonstration for audiences in North America.

Ata has performed many times at United Nations Headquarters in New York and regularly provides cultural support and advice to New Zealand Government departments.

Ata is a founding member of MATOU, a New York based musical collective of indigenous artists from New Zealand and North American First Nations, who recorded a vocal track for HBO series, “The L Word” and have recently completed recording their first album, “hupo hono”.  Ata founded Hautawhiti, a music and performing arts group that provides Māori entertainment for events that require a traditional Māori component, including Waitangi Day, ANZAC Day ceremonies and New Zealand government functions.  Ata joined First Nation Women’s a capella singing group, Ulali in 2006 and has appeared with Native Roots, an Indigenous Reggae band from New Mexico and with Native American musician Robby Romero.

Ata has recorded backing vocals for Māori musician, Tama Waipara, for his “Leaving Paradise” EP (2006) and for his latest CD “Fill Up The Silence” (release pending); recorded vocals for the documentary, “Polynesian Power: Samoans in the NFL” (2004); recorded backing vocals for All Our Colors with Native American musician Robby Romero for the single Painting the World (2008)

Ata organizes Matariki New York, a festival that celebrates the Māori New Year, and includes Māori art, tā moko (traditional tattooing), music and food.     Along with Matariki, Ata is also involved with other events in New York that have a Pacific Island flavor and currently serves as a Board member of Hālāwai, a NYC Not for Profit group that is committed to sharing Hawaiian and Pacific Island cultures with New Yorkers.