"From the earliest days of the Web Collective, Mahinarangi's lyrical guitar, haunting words and light filled words moved so many of us," said Dr Ngahuia Te Awekotuku, Chair of Te Waka Toi, the Maori arts board of Creative New Zealand.

"Her loss is a tragedy; we will miss her deeply. All the songs yet to be sung, the melodies yet to be written. Our hearts go out to her partner, her daughter and her whanau. E te manu piataata, e te korimako tioriori o te wa nui o Hine Whakapiripiri, o Hine Raukatauri, moe mai ra."

Leading Maori musician Mahinarangi Tocker passed away peacefully on Tuesday afternoon after suffering an asthma attack last week. Her life support was turned off on Monday at North Shore Hospital after family and friends said goodbye.

A prolific songwriter and performer Tocker wrote more than 600 songs in her career that spanned more than 25 years.

For her services to music, she became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2008's New Year's Honours List.

"From the earliest days of the Web Collective, Mahinarangi's lyrical guitar, haunting words and light filled words moved so many of us," said Dr Ngahuia Te Awekotuku, Chair of Te Waka Toi, the Maori arts board of Creative New Zealand.

"Her loss is a tragedy; we will miss her deeply. All the songs yet to be sung, the melodies yet to be written. Our hearts go out to her partner, her daughter and her whanau. E te manu piataata, e te korimako tioriori o te wa nui o Hine Whakapiripiri, o Hine Raukatauri, moe mai ra."

Leading Maori musician Mahinarangi Tocker passed away peacefully on Tuesday afternoon after suffering an asthma attack last week. Her life support was turned off on Monday at North Shore Hospital after family and friends said goodbye.

A prolific songwriter and performer Tocker wrote more than 600 songs in her career that spanned more than 25 years.

For her services to music, she became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2008's New Year's Honours List.

Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Judith Tizard said Tocker was an inspirational musician and breathtaking singer.

"Her original compositions and soaring voice touched hearts and minds, both at home and overseas. She worked hard to create original music true to herself and her heritage," said Judith Tizard.

Tocker's talent as a singer/songwriter was also recognised when in 1999 she was invited to open Parliament.

She featured in the first Like Minds, Like Mine TV ads in 2000 and then worked at the Mental Health Foundation to help reduce the stigma of mental illness.

Tocker said at the time "Sound and music has always been my favourite way to communicate. I love how music can create self-understanding and therefore lead to kinder communication with people who come into my life."

"Music making and word play is a huge part of my everyday life and the safest therapy for me to immerse myself in as a way to wear my experiences of mental distress. Music has helped me to keep my negative thoughts as just that, thoughts. It's a good feeling for me."

Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Mahara Okeroa, acknowledged the musician's professional achievements and significant contribution to New Zealand culture.

"As we mourn Mahinarangi's death, we celebrate a legacy of wonderful songs which openly express love, loss and heritage. Many of her strong emotional lyrics are about identity. She took great pride in her diverse ancestry.

"Many of her songs have been recorded by other artists but she will be remembered for her own rich vocal delivery which has given us so much pleasure over the years. She will be sadly missed," said Mahara Okeroa.

Tocker was also a stalwart figure in the gay community. GayNZ.com said Tocker and her guitar were frequent and popular additions to LGBT fundraisers and events like Auckland's Big Gay Out, and she has also performed at Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

She also gave lectures around New Zealand about the use of music and creativity to boost learning and self-esteem, and was an adult literacy tutor, writer and poet. See the GayNZ.com 2003 interview with Mahinarangi Tocker.

She toured extensively and was a regular performer on the New Zealand festival circuit. As well as performing solo, Mahinarangi worked collaboratively with many New Zealand artists including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Charlotte Yates.

Her Amplifier profile says "Mahinarangi is a wonderful vocalist with an intricate, jazzy sense of phrasing as well as a strong, multi-instrumentalist with a fascination for cross rhythms. But all of her gifts, it is her songwriting that shines brightest; the songs are warm, funny, sad and infinitely singable."

Tocker was of Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Maniapoto, Jewish and Celtic Ancestry. She leaves behind a partner of 19 years and a daughter. She was 52.

Image: Mahinarangi Tocker at WOMAD 2005

More information

Music.net bio

Amplifier profile and releases

Tributes

Associate Ministers for Arts, Culture and Heritage

Creative New Zealand

15/04/08