Mahinarangi Tocker

Mahinārangi Tocker at the 2007 Auckland Folk Festival

Mahinārangi Tocker, MNZM (1955^[1] - 15 April 2008) was a singer-songwriter from New Zealand.

She wrote more than 600 songs in a 25-year career.^[2] Her vocal style has been compared to that of Joan Armatrading and Tracy Chapman ^[3] 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.

Tocker was born in Taumarunui and was of Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Jewish and Celtic ancestry.^[2] She was an open lesbian.^[4]

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

Tocker died on 15 April 2008 in Auckland's North Shore hospital following a severe asthma attack. She was 52.^[4]

Discography

Albums ^[5]

• 1985 Clothesline Conversation
• 1987 I'm Going Home
• 1996 Mahinarangi
• 1997 Te Ripo
• 2002 Hei Ha!
• 2002 Touring (With Charlotte Yates)
• 2005 The Mongrel in Me

References

1. ^ "Mahinarangi Tocker: Singer from the heartland". Dominion Post. 2008-04-24. http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4495040a24437.html. Retrieved 2008-05-20. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Kiran Dass (October 2005). "The Mongrel in Mahinarangi". NZ Musician Magazine. http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/article/pi_articleid/711. Retrieved 2008-04-15. 
3. ^ "Musician Mahinarangi Tocker dies age 52". New Zealand Herald. 2008-04-15. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=513&objectid=10504255. Retrieved 2008-04-16. 
4. ^ ^{a b} GayNZ.com (April 2008). "Singer/songwriter Mahinarangi Tocker dies". GayNZ.com. http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_5819.php. Retrieved 2008-04-19. 
5. ^ muzic.net.nz

Persondata
Name	Tocker, Mahinarangi
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1955
Place of birth
Date of death	2008-04-15
Place of death