Inia Te Wiata

Inia Watene Tauhia Te Wiata (b. 10 June 1915 Otaki, New Zealand - d. 26 June 1971) was a Maori bass-baritone opera singer, film actor and carver.

Te Wiata was born into the Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga Iwi. His father, Watene Te Wiata, died early and he was brought up by Pairoroku and Rakete Rikihana in Otaki.

Early Life

Te Wiata developed an interest in singing first performing on the stage at the age of 7. He attended the Otaki state school and was taught music by Miss Edith Miller. After primary school he attended Otaki Maori College. At the age of 13 and a half his voice broke and settled into a bass-baritone. Once his voice had settled he joined his cousin's quartette which included Wi Nicholls, Henry Tahiwi and Dan Rikihana. Other family members encouraged Te Waita in his singing - particularly Mrs Mihi Taylor, a member of the Rikihana family. She taught both Te Wiata and his cousin to sing duets and expected both an excellent work ethic and a high standard of performance from them.

Te Wiata moved to the Waikato and it was here he became interested in carving. He was employed at Ngaruawahia for three years on the carving to "Turongo", the house of the Maori King, which opened in 1936. Afterwards he did seasonal labouring work at the Horotiu Freezing works, near Hamilton. He continued his public singing during this time and was a very active member of the Waiata Maori Choir. This Choir was organised by the Superintendent of the Methodist Maori Mission, Reverend J. J. Seamer, and it toured all over New Zealand. Te Wiata's work on "Turongo" prevented him from joining the Choir when they toured Great Britain.

Te Wiata began to develop a circle of supporters who wished to help him further his singing education. Mr Grant of Hamilton, Mr H. D. Caro - the then Mayor of Hamilton, Dame H. Ida Ross, Sir Joseph Hannan, Stewart Garland and the conductor Anderson Tyrer were all impressed by his talent. A favourable professional opinion of Inia's voice was acquired from the famous Australian singer Peter Dawson and Anderson Tyrer was put in charge of arranging Te Wiata's study overseas. Fund raising began and a Government grant was added to this and, in 1947 Te Wiata left for London for three years study at the Trinity College of Music.

Formal Musical Training and Career

Te Wiata worked hard at his craft. In addition to his studies at Trinity College he also took private lessons from James Kennedy Scott and language lessons at the Berlitz School of Languages. In order to gain more experience with opera he joined the opera company run by the great English Soprano Joan Cross and had a resounding success with his portrail of Sir Astra from Mozart's The Magic Flute. As the end of the three year study grant was approaching, the Prime Minister of New Zealand - Peter Fraser - visited England and Te Wiata took the opportunity to apply for a grant for a fourth year. This was successful.

Nearing the end of his grant Te Wiata decided to audition for the Covent Garden Opera Company. He was successful in his audition and was told to turn up for rehearsel the next day. He was launched into his first role in the Opera Company as the Speaker in The Magic Flute. He went from strength to strength, taking parts in operas The Marriage of Figaro, La Boheme, Billy Budd and Gloriana - the parts for the last two being specially written for him by Benjamin Britten.

As his reputation grew Te Wiata was also approached to perform in television and film productions. He appeared in a number of films including Man of the Moment, 1955 and In Search of the Castaways, 1962; and also took the lead in the film The Seekers, 1954. He took part in a number of television series. He did not restrict himself to singing in pure opera but also stared in musicals including The Most Happy Fella.

In 1959 he married Beryl McMillan, also a singer and actor, and they had one daughter Rima Te Wiata born in 1965. Beryl gave up acting after her marriage to concentrate on managing Te Wiata's career.

While Te Wiata returned to New Zealand periodically he did not settle there but continued with his singing career in Great Britain living in London and creating a life there with his wife and child. Te Wiata was a popular man and had a large circle of friends and acquaintances including the comedian Spike Milligan. [Documentary: "Spike Milligan Remembers Inia"] . Te Waita remained extremely fond of New Zealand and talked of returning there on his retirement. He maintained close links with New Zealand House in London, attending and singing at the opening of the House in 1963 and also working in the basement of New Zealand House on carving projects. He carved a fine waka huia for Sir Thomas Macdonald, New Zealand's High Commissioner to present to the Worshipful Company of Butchers on Macdonald's departure from London. Te Wiata also had a long-term project carving five very large totara logs. He continued working on this project in between his professional obligations but was unable to complete the work "Pouihi" before his untimely death from cancer in 1971.

Te Wiata's funeral was held at Otaki Pa, New Zealand and the event was photographed by the New Zealand photographer, Ans Westra.

Te Wiata's archive of papers is held by the National Library of New Zealand.

In November 2007 a commemorative CD / DVD was published containing previously unreleased recordings as well as a documentary film of his carving and an interview of Spike Milligan. [ [http://www.natlib.govt.nz/about-us/news/media-releases/14-november-2007-inia-te-wiata-cd/ Press release: Beryl Te Wiata presents Inia Te Wiata recordings; 14 November 2007] ]

References

* [http://teaohou.natlib.govt.nz/journals/teaohou/issue/Mao23TeA/c9.html Inia Te Waita by Ziska Schwimmer; Te Ao Hou - The New World; No 23 July 1958]

External Links

* [http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/search.aspx?__VIEWSTATE=%2FwEPDwUKMTAwNTY3MzM4MGRk2VIBUl0c8JJ0OrrEMBcNzXoTvg8%3D&term=Inia+Te+Wiata Images associated with Inia Te Wiata in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa]

Persondata
NAME= Te Wiata, Inia Watene Tauhia
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= opera singer, film actor and carver
DATE OF BIRTH= 10 June, 1915
PLACE OF BIRTH= Otaki, New Zealand
DATE OF DEATH= 26 June, 1971
PLACE OF DEATH=