August 04, 2013
Laureate awards for Whiting, Te Kanawa
Artist and heritage advocate Cliff Whiting and opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa have been acclaimed for their lifetime achievements with the presentation of Arts Foundation Icon Awards.
The other artists honoured this year are filmmaker Geoff Murphy, architect Ian Athfield and painter and writer Jacqueline Fahey.
The award is limited to 20 living artists.
Whiting, from Te Whanau ā Apanui, has had a career spanning more than half a century in contemporary Māori art, meeting house design and restoration, teaching and administration.
He was the first Kaihautu of Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand, working to make biculturalism a foundation stone for the institution.
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa moved to London in 1966 after winning the major vocal prizes in New Zealand and Australia, and made her debut at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden as principal soprano in Marriage of Figaro.
She has been one of the world’s most in-demand singers for 40 years, not only in the great opera houses but also for events like Prince Charles’s wedding, the Millenium telecast from Gisborne in 2000 and last month at the Buckingham Palace opening celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the Queen's coronation.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd