New Zealand Music Month sees a heightened spotlight on the music industry in Aotearoa - with so much to applaud and celebrate.

But the latest launched initiative is one that could have a longer-lasting impact than just album sales or touring success - and it's born from the industry's darkest days.

SoundCheck Aotearoa has this week announced a new core service - Sexual Harm Prevention and Response Advisor (SHAPRA) - available to all people affected by sexual harm in Aotearoa’s music community. 

These are uncomfortable conversations - but ones that need to be had.

During the exposing of the unspoken underbelly of sexual harassment and exploitation in early 2021 - described as New Zealand music's #metoo moment - Soundcheck Aotearoa were among the first to start a dialogue with the community and "heard loud and clear" that independent professional advice was required.

Following the initial revelations, Soundcheck commissioned a report about how to create changes in the music industry called “Creating Culture Change around Sexual Harm in the Music Community in Aotearoa”. 

The report, released July 2021, looked at how to prevent sexual harm in the industry, and how to respond to it occurring. Workshops in Auckland and Wellington canvassed 145 industry workers, and the themes that emerged included ‘The Boys Club’ and sexist industry norms, as well as insecurity of income making it easier for power to be abused. Substance use and the small size of the industry were also contributing factors.  

Recommendations included embedding an industry standard Code of Conduct, training, and improving response systems to sexual harm.

All that has led to SHAPRA's introduction and the hiring of Project Manager Anna Loveys to deliver the free, confidential service for accessing specialist advice, consultation, support and advocacy. 

The latest addition to achieving that goal is Melanie Calvesbert who brings over 25 years experience supporting people affected by sexual harm in New Zealand to her roles as Soundcheck Aotearoa's inaugural SHAPRA. She's already been working in the music community for the last eight months delivering Professional Respect Training (PRT) with Independent Sexual Harm Prevention Specialist, Rachel Harrison. 

SoundCheck Aotearoa board Chair Jo Oliver - also confirming the organisation has now formed its own charitable trust - states "Mel will provide an independent and confidential channel for people and businesses to access advice on their situation, while SoundCheck Aotearoa remains committed to continuing its long-term work on culture change.

“SoundCheck Aotearoa has been supporting the music community since 2020, with the firm belief that everyone is entitled to a safe workplace, whether that is an office, music venue, bar or recording studio.”

“Our music community is such a source of joy and connection, but also faces complex challenges in being a safe, respectful, and inclusive place,” says SoundCheck Aotearoa Board Member, Lydia Jenkin. “We hope the introduction of the SHAPRA service will create a real opportunity for healing, as well as helping our community to find solid guidance when needed.”

The Sexual Harm Prevention and Response Advisor (SHAPRA) is available to:

• Anyone who has experienced harm
• Concerned friends and whānau, bystanders, colleagues, and members of the public who have engaged with someone working in the music community
• Businesses and workplaces responding to a situation
• Businesses and workplaces seeking advice on how to prevent harm from occurring
• Anyone who has done harm or is accused of harming someone.

This won't draw the headlines that the abuse itself achieved across all media outlets - but it's just as important. Exposing this long-entrenched and abhorrent behaviour was crucial, providing solutions and support is vital.

The bravery of the women who came forward needs to mean something. They did so to ensure this abuse stops - and to save others from being in that situation. 

This is a step that shows it's being taken seriously.

Down with the kids

The accolades of Music Month are also worth trumpeting from the rooftops - or in this occasion, from the Tuning Fork at Spark Arena.

One of the first Tūi of the year (I'm reliably corrected that the Folk Music Tūi was first out of the gate) has been handed out at the New Zealand Children's Music Awards in the weekend - with the popular and prolific Levity Beet adding another Best Children's Artist title to his impressive collection.

He told The Lowdown "I feel very grateful to all the humans and other creatures that inspired my 'Dino-Bunny-Digger Let's Go!' collection of songs. To be acknowledged with a Tūi award is very encouraging and gets me excited about making more fun-connective music for children and families. 

"The awards event itself was inspiring as it brought together a big, strong family of very collaborative creatives who are all exploring how we can provide better and better music, video and other media for children everywhere."

The Best Children's Song was claimed by Lavina Williams and Mark Casey for Aotearoa Sun - performed by incredibly soulful 12-year-old Jaya live at the event.

Williams and Casey describe the win as "the icing on the cake for what has been a joyful, rewarding creative project from beginning to end."

Kiwi creativity was on display with the Best Children’s Music video winner, with the video for former Midnight Youth singer Jeremy Redmore's debut children's tune ‘Sing Like A Unicorn’ showcasing the skills of Adam Rowland of Awkward Animations.

Rowland described the win as "A huge compliment to what was a collaboration of a Singer/Songwriter, Illustrator and Stop Motion Content Creator all combining our skills to make one beautiful piece of entertainment for children to help them find their own voice/superpower within themselves. 

"To see this being shown in schools around New Zealand with children dancing and singing alongside Jeremy was reward enough - but to win Best Music Video was the cherry on the icing on a really tasty musical cake."

Country contest

APRA AMCOS barely finished bringing down the decorations for the Children's Music Awards before announcing the finalists for the 2023 Best Country Music Song.

It's once again dominated by powerhouse Tami Neilson - nominated for two of the three songs.

She's up for her tribute to her late father, the heartbreaking but warm duet with Willie Nelson Beyond The Stars - co-written with Delaney Davidson - as well as having a co-writing credit on Find A River with The Mitchell Twins, Maegan and Nicola, inspired by the Topp Twins' recent battle with illness and separation.

Multi-award-winning singer/songwriter Mel Parsons rounds out the trio of finalists with her nostalgic tune Slow Burn.

The Best Country Music Song Award will be presented at the inaugural Country Music Honours in Gore on 1 June, alongside the MLT Songwriting Award, acknowledging unreleased songs from writers from New Zealand and Australia - Parsons is one of the ten finalists in that category too with Nobody Warns You.  

Test of tunes

If you reckon you know your Aotearoa music - you get the chance to test it out at the Civic's iconic Wintergarden tonight (11 May).

The Great New Zealand Music Challenge - hosted by Taylor MacGregor from bFM's Freak the Sheep - will be more than your average quiz. Yes, there will still be questions asked, prizes to be won and socialising to be had - but it will also double as a gig with some exceptional emerging New Zealand talent performing in the shape of Katie-Lee Webster, Max Earnshaw and Geoff Ong - the latter to debut his new single  Waiting On What To Say for your listening pleasure.

All the details you need are here.

Niuean art right at home in Auckland

Auckland has long held the mantle of the largest Pasifika population in Aotearoa - but for one nation in particular - Tāmaki Makaurau is home to more of its people than their Island of origin.

The rugged, stunning Island of Niue has 1,657 locals who call it home. In Auckland, there are 23,088 Niueans (as of the 2018 census).

That's why events like Fenoga Tāoga Niue I Aotearoa Niue Heritage Journey In Aotearoa at Māngere Arts Centre (running until 20 May) take on such significance in preserving and enhancing Niuean culture. Put together by the Falepipi he Mafola Niuean Handcraft Group to celebrate its 30th anniversary, it celebrates the amazing works of the past and present members that have struck a chord with many.

Almost 1000 people showed up to the 1 April opening event - and a comment left by one visitor shows the importance of being seen.

"Fakalofa lahi atu, ko Adison e higoa haaku. I am a 16-year-old Niuean girl who doesn't know much about the history of her culture so this exhibition really made me feel connected and at awe of the history of my people. Thank you."

The likes of Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni and Pacific Island icon Dame Valerie Adams have been among those taking in the exhibition.

The trio of Barbara Makuati-Afitu, Kolokesa Māhina-Tuai and Hikule‘o Fe‘aomoeako Melaia Māhina from Lagi-Maama Academy & Consultancy co-curated the exhibition and told The Lowdown  "There are 350+ individual pieces in this exhibition that showcase the knowledge, skills and creativity of the Niuean minds, hearts and hands of Falepipi he Mafola Group members. They have laid a strong foundation to nurture and inspire the young minds and hearts of our future generations. 

"We acknowledge ALL members past and present, for their foresight in knowing and understanding the importance of preserving and maintaining their Niue heritage and culture - including fine arts - here in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and wider Aotearoa New Zealand." 

The seven-week-long exhibition culminates in a closing event on 20 May - where there will be a book launch to commemorate the 30-year milestone. 

Big month for Afro-Kiwi creatives

It's a special - and busy - time for the team at Black Creatives Aotearoa (BCA) as well.

They have two important events overlapping this month. It begins with the opening of art installation Rituals: Healing Through the Black Imagination at Albert Park's Caretakers Cottage (20 May - 18 June)

Described as community-cultivated project - curated by Serenity Wise with work from key artist Alvie McKree and guest creative Natasha Marin - visual artworks will work in collaboration with oral narratives by BCA creatives, will explore the power of the Black Imagination (Marin's book by the same name providing the inspiration) and provides a rare opportunity for Black/African artists to come together and collectively explore the concept of healing through the act of ritual. 

Another significant occasion for BCA happens on 25 May - Africa Day - with the launch of Black to the Future, an inaugural zine that reflects one of the first printed collections of Black Literature and Art in Aotearoa. The zine, co-edited by Bareeka Vrede and Acacia Cochise, aims to celebrate the creativity of Afro-Kiwis through a variety of genres and forms and will be on display at the Auckland Central Library & Ellen Melville Centre. 

BCA Founder Dione Joseph told The Lowdown "In February this year Black Creatives Aotearoa (BCA) celebrated our fifth birthday, a huge milestone that reflected an immeasurable amount of creativity, hard work and persistence. 

"Both these innovative projects feature a high level of community involvement from BCA members around the country, including fifteen contributions in the zine and nine audio contributions in the installation. 

"Both these events are city-centric (Ellen Melville Centre and Caretakers Cottage respectively) and they are free! In addition, we also have a BCA Black Ink bookstand at the Central City Library in Auckland."

"Every day and through every event, we as a community combat the myth that “we are not here” - but we do more than that. 

"We create spaces to rest, love, excite, share, invoke, welcome, heighten the senses and to re-shape space with our energies - and that is precisely what is presented in both our zine and art installation."

Theatre reprieve for Acting PM

Even when having to deal with the drama of political 'waka hopping' as acting Prime Minister, Carmel Sepuloni still made time to stick to appointments under her Arts, Culture and Heritage portfolio.

She last week attended two plays featuring all-wāhine Māori casts - the late Nancy Brunning's tribute to the powerful work of novelist Witi Ihimaera, Witi’s Wāhine (produced by Hapai Productions and Auckland Theatre Company) as well as the more contemporary and raunchy Kōpū, (produced by Te Pou Theatre). Both shows opened in Auckland on Thursday.

Sepuloni commented “At the end of a hard week, there was nothing better than to watch mana wāhine smash it on stage. It was good for the soul. It was a great time to reflect, laugh and just breathe.

"Wāhine Māori stories resonate in so many ways. As a Pasifika woman, I feel a natural affinity. We share many of the same struggles but also many of the same strengths.

"If wāhine Māori stories aren’t represented in our theatres, then the stories being told on our stages are not a true depiction of our nation, and wāhine Māori are deprived of the opportunity to see themselves on stage and take inspiration from that.”

Tanea Heke of Hapai Productions and co-producer of Witi’s Wāhine endorses Sepuloni’s message of seeing more wāhine Māori stories on the stage.  

“Here's to a future where this isn't a special occasion but just the way things are. It will be wāhine Māori who will take the lead and showcase our stories and narratives."

Amber Curreen, director of Kōpū, says they are standing on the shoulders of past wāhine Māori storytellers who have paved the way.  

“This is a legacy of Māori storytelling that has been laid down by powerhouse wāhine over the last 40 years which we are proud and determined to continue.”

Witi’s Wāhine is currently playing at the ASB Waterfront Theatre until 20 May. Kōpū is currently playing at Te Pou Theatre, Corban Arts Estate, Henderson until 14 May.  

Fill your (Gum)boots

Art lovers with an eye for supporting worthy causes should be interested in an auction taking place on Friday (12 May).

Turua Gallery has enlisted the support of 15 New Zealand artists to put their work on the auction block to raise funds for Gumboot Friday, the signature event for mental health/anti-bullying advocate Mike King's I Am Hope foundation.

King will serve as the MC of the event at Babylon Store in St Heliers - with all the proceeds donated to the charity that helps young people connect with counsellors or therapists. 

Among the artists is Michel Tuffery, offering his artwork Masina ua Atoa, which translates from Samoan to Full Moon.

Tuffery states "I am so pleased to be supporting 'I AM HOPE' as their lens is on the entire community and for all ages."

Kylie Rusk is another artist that strongly identifies with the cause.

"I was raised in a small community in the far north on a farm, being somewhat isolated from the hustle and bustle of city centres and the respective amenities & services in which they bring.  The farming community is one of many in our country that deal with day-to-day anguish and stress of their vocation and sadly a stigma still exists with regards to reaching out and seeking help. 

"Personal battles are ones which are being fought daily by those in our society and often being fought alone, sometimes resulting in the ultimate of dire outcomes."

Auckland-based artist Dr Rachael Mayne is also involved - her work as a clinical psychologist specialising in eating disorders compelling her to take part. 

"Having worked in multiple sectors in the industry, having a charity like Gumboot Friday is so important for many reasons - the least I can do is support Turua’s initiative by donating one of my pieces.” 

The artwork can be viewed over the next few days, before the auction kicks off at 7pm on Friday, with silent and phone bidding options available.

Back from the Bay

With so many Aucklanders shifting to the Bay of Plenty these days (locals call Papamoa 'little Auckland'), it's noteworthy that one is moving the other way.

Stephen Cleland has been appointed as the new curator and manager of St Paul St Gallery, run by the AUT School of Art and Design. Cleland's most recent post in his 15 years in programming art exhibitions was as Director of Tauranga Art Gallery - before that he was at Wellington’s Adam Art Gallery. Christchurch's The Physics Room, Auckland Art Gallery and Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts.

He explains “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to build on St Paul St’s proud history and to reimagine the possibilities for presenting the best of art and design to our audiences in the coming years.”

Over the coming months, St Paul St Gallery will be relaunched with a new identity, signalling its expanded mandate to represent leading contemporary practitioners across the art and design fields. 

New trustees

The New Zealand Film Festival Trust has announced the latest additions to its board.

Kaine Thompson, Sharon Menzies and Toby Manhire join the board as of today (11 May) and bring with them some important board and industry muscle.

Thompson is a Trustee of the Wellington Theatre Awards Trust, the Embassy Theatre Trust and Kia Puāwai/Youth Horizons, an organisation established to improve the lives of tamariki, rangatahi and whānau across Aotearoa.  He also brings experience in international trade regulation, public and government relations, local government and arts consultancy.

Menzies (Te Aitanga-a-Mahāki) is currently the Chair of Film Bay of Plenty and was the Co-President of the New Zealand Screen Production and Development Association (SPADA) and President of Women In Film and Television (WIFT NZ). She's spent the past 15 years building up board and chair experience across both sides of the Tasman.

Manhire is an award-winning journalist and editor, and editor-at-large at The Spinoff. He has contributed to a range of New Zealand titles including The Listener, RNZ and The New Zealand Herald and spent a decade working at The Guardian in London.