Tihei Mauriora! E nga mate, kua rere atu ki te urunga o te po tena koutou. Tatou te hunga ora, tena tatou katoa.  Tenei te mihi atu ki a tatou e whai ake i nga tikanga a kui ma a koro ma.  Kia ora ai te wairua a ratou ma ki runga noa i nga korero me nga waiata maha.  No reira tena koutou, tena koutou, aa kia ora ano tatou katoa.
 
Thus is the first breath of life.  To our loved ones passed on to the pillow of the night we greet you.  We greet the living, and to you all that follow the traditions of our elders, and their spirit expressed in oratory and song.  And so therefore, I greet all of us with good health.
 
Te Whiri, is the debut album from Emissary Music and marks a unique journey in Maori music.
 
The album leads the listener back into New Zealand history and to the stories of our place in Aotearoa.

Executive producer Mike Hennessy and Canadian composer Teresa Connors worked with established and respected taonga puoro musicians –Rangiiria Hedley (Ngati Tuwharetoa) and Bernard Makoare (Ngati Whatua). 
 
Te Whiri, was a six month collaborative project between a host of musicians and contributors who willingly gave their time and experience. It was inspired by the taonga (Maori treasures) in the international exhibition Ko Tawa: Taonga From Our Ancestral Landscapes, which opened at the Auckland Museum, on June 10, 2005.

These taonga originate from tribes of the central North Island. Each carry unique historical narratives (korero), representing cornerstones of New Zealand’s developing identity today.

Auckland Museum has protected these taonga since they passed into its keeping from Gilbert Mair (Tawa) in 1890.

The album title conveys the weaving/binding together of all the elements of this project; taonga puoro and modern instrument, Maori and Pakeha, taonga and Mair, ancestor and descendant, past and present into the final result which is – Te Whiri.

This project would not have been possible without the generous assistance and support of many different people. Our thanks also go to Ngati Rangitihi, Ngati Tuwharetoa & Ngati Whakaue and their ancestral taonga - Kahumamae O Pareraututu, Te Awa O Te Atua & Murirangaranga - which inspired us creatively and led us in the correct directions.  

email mike@emissarymedia.com.

Top	COPYRIGHT 2003 IO MULTIMEDIA LTD