Toni Huata, Ngāti Kahungunu and Rongowhakaata, has been appointed to the newly established role of Kaihautū Puoro Māori - Director of Māori Music at SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music. She will start in the role in January 2019.

This new role will be responsible for the implementation and development of SOUNZ’s Māori Music Strategy. SOUNZ Executive Director, Diana Marsh, said, “This full-time leadership role is a significant new direction for SOUNZ as we intend to work with Māori composers to expand our collection and the work that we do to represent the music of Aotearoa.” 

“SOUNZ is delighted to appoint such an experienced candidate to this role,” said Diana Marsh, in announcing the appointment today. “Toni has shown a strong commitment to Māori music through her work with numerous organisations in both leadership roles and as a composer and musician, and we are fortunate to have her join the SOUNZ whānau to further promote and share the music of Māori composers.”

Ms Huata says, “I'm very happy to support SOUNZ in this new role and acknowledge all that have contributed towards the fruition of this journey. I look forward with much excitement to connecting and collaborating with many organisations and composers in this coming year; highlighting our uniqueness yet commonality from our special place in this world - Aotearoa.  Nō reira, āku nui, āku rahi, kā nui rā ngā mihi ki a koutou mō tō koutou tautoko ki te kaupapa kai mua i a tātau. E rere e te huata hopukia, e rere e te manuka tomokia.”

Toni Huata brings a wide variety of skills to this role, including manager, director, producer and performer. Toni is well known within the culture sector in New Zealand as a practitioner and promoter of Māori culture, music and performance. She has served in governance roles with Te Runanga o Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Whanganui ā Tara, Pūatatangi - Toi Māori Aotearoa, Taki Rua Productions, Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated and other iwi and Māori agencies.

SOUNZ would like to thank the Lottery Grants Board and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori for their support of SOUNZ's Māori Music Strategy and this role.

SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand music works to champion the music of New Zealand’s composers. SOUNZ is home to a diverse and vibrant collection of information, scores, recordings and films of New Zealand music and performances. Creative collaborations with partner organisations such as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, RNZ Concert, APRA and NZ On Air highlight the organisation’s ongoing growth and development through events and projects that promote the music of Aotearoa to national and international audiences.