September 03, 2012
Martial arts revivalist honoured
He’s just won a Sir Kingi Ihaka award from Te Waka Toi for a lifetime commitment to Maori arts and culture, and now Mita Mohi is about to get another Maori award.
The Rotorua kaumatua has been nominated for the Keeper of Traditions Award, in this month’s National Waiata Maori Music Awards.
That’s in acknowledgement for his work the Maori martial art of mau rakau over the past 35 years.
Producer and musician Billy Karaitiana will receive the Maori Music Industry Award in recognition of his international career stretching back to the 1960s.
The Lifetime Contribution to Maori Music Award goes jointly to Richard Nunns and the late Dr Hirini Melbourne for their work reviving taonga puoro, or traditional Maori music instruments.
The historical award for an Iconic Maori Music Composer will highlight the work of Te Aritaua Pitama, a Ngai Tahu leader, teacher, broadcaster and concert party producer.
The awards will be presented at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings on September 14.