Band leader, guitarist, percussionist lead singer and song writer for Te Vaka. Opetaia has written and arranged all the band's material as well as co-produced the five Te Vaka albums. Opetaia has been described as ..."one of New Zealand's finest songwriters - his sentiments are universal and his subjects deeply personal"...
Drum kit, Pate Toa (rhythm log drums), Pate liki (double log drums) He is quarter Tokelauan, quarter Tuvaluan and half New Zealander. Manase joined Te Vaka in 1995 as a drummer and dancer, but his exceptional skills on the drums have not allowed time for the dance as he moves around a multitude of drums in any one show.
Bass player and Pau'u Malu (goat skin bass drum). Luavasa has been with Te Vaka since 1994. He left the band in 2000 but is now back on the bass. Vasa is half Tokelauan and half Tuvaluan born in Samoa and brought up in a Tokelauan community in New Zealand.
Guitar, Pate Toa (rhythm log drums), Pate liki (double log drums), Pa'u Malu, skin drums, keys & flute. Neil has been with Te Vaka since 1994 and is a New Zealander. He has been involved with music for most of his life, learning piano at the age of eleven, and going on to play drums, guitar, flute and log drums.
Drum kit, log Drums, skin drums, Percussion. Born in New Zealand, Matatia is quarter Tokelauan, quarter Tuvaluan and half New Zealander. The youngest drummer in the group he started performing with Te Vaka in 2003 and makes his way around log drums, skin drums and percussion with ease and skill beyond his years
Olivia is part Tokelauan, Tuvaluan and New Zealander. Born in New Zealand she has performed with Te Vaka since 2005. As with many members of the group, Olivia is multi-talented and loves to perform - singing and playing keyboards when she is not dancing.
Lead Dancer. Half Tokelauan, quarter Cook Island and quarter Tuvaluan, born in New Zealand. He has been dancing since the age of five. Joining Te Vaka in 1997, he made his debut at WOMAD Pacifica. Since being with the band he has contributed his traditional and contemporary dance skills and also assists with choreography for the stage shows.
Tremayne was born in New Zealand . Part Niuean, Cook Island, Maori and European, Tremayne is a passionate dancer. She joined Te Vaka at the beginning of 2005 and has been stunning audiences around the world ever since.
Singer & dancer. Talaga is full Tokelauan, born in Tokelau. He joins Te Vaka on tour for the first time in 2007but his voice can be heard on the first Te Vaka album recorded in 1996.
Liana is Tokelauan/Samoan born in New Zealand. She is the newest member of the Te Vaka family. As well as a being fluent in the Tokelau language, Liana has been dancing the Samoan Siva and Tokelau fatele since she was very young. Her first performance with Te Vaka was in 2008 at the Australian Songwriter awards where the band won "Best performance of the night".
Te Vaka is a unique group of ten musicians and dancers from Tokelau, Tuvalu, Samoa, Cook Islands, and New Zealand brought together under the inspired leadership of Opetaia Foa'i, one of New Zealand's finest songwriters. They have been wowing international audiences since 1997, presenting a rich, luscious mix of Polynesia's ancient culture, to the modern world and have just been announced the winners of the “Best Pacific Group” award in the 2008 Pacific Music Awards”
Te Vaka has performed in the USA and toured the UK, Europe & other parts of the world extensively over the last 12 years, performing in such prestigious venues as London’s Royal Festival Hall and Ronnie Scott’s nightclub. The group has headlined music festivals throughout Europe and been favourites at WOMAD festivals around the world including the WOMAD Festival in Seattle, USA. They have been nominated for two BBC Radio 3, World Music Awards - Best “Asia Pacific” and the “Audience Choice Award” categories.
Opetaia Foa’i is the songwriter/ lead vocalist of the group. The inspiration for his music comes from his multi-cultural upbringing - half Tokelauan, half Tuvaluan, born in Samoa and bought up in a Tokelauan community in New Zealand. Opetaia’s musical background spans both the traditional and the diverse influences of contemporary metropolitan culture.
Described as “one of New Zealand’s finest songwriters” and “ a true son of the Pacific”, he won the Senior Pacific Artist award in 2005 for his contribution to the Pacific Arts.
Te Vaka has performed in 35 countries around the world and released five albums to date. The first gained immediate worldwide acclaim and recognition for the group. Released through ARC Music, a UK based Record company, the album was distributed to over 80 countries. The second album, released in 1999 through Warm Earth Records created an even bigger impact going to number one on world music charts and in some countries on mainstream radio. The third album, released in May 2002, was described as “Phenomenal” and gained the group a nomination in “Best Roots” category in the New Zealand music awards. The 4th album Tutuki , entered the European World Music Charts at no. 4 & the USA Global Rhythm top 10 chart at no. 3. It won a Tui for “Best Pacific Music Album” in the New Zealand music awards. The latest Te Vaka album Olatia, released in July 2007 has also achieved rave reviews both in New Zealand and internationally, entering the European World Music Chart at No. 4 and winning a “Tui” for “Best Pacific Album” in the 2008 Pacific Music Awards.
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Band leader, guitarist, percussionist lead singer and song writer for Te Vaka. Opetaia has written and arranged all the band's material as well as co-produced the five Te Vaka albums. Opetaia has been described as ..."one of New Zealand's finest songwriters - his sentiments are universal and his subjects deeply personal"...
Drum kit, Pate Toa (rhythm log drums), Pate liki (double log drums) He is quarter Tokelauan, quarter Tuvaluan and half New Zealander. Manase joined Te Vaka in 1995 as a drummer and dancer, but his exceptional skills on the drums have not allowed time for the dance as he moves around a multitude of drums in any one show.
Bass player and Pau'u Malu (goat skin bass drum). Luavasa has been with Te Vaka since 1994. He left the band in 2000 but is now back on the bass. Vasa is half Tokelauan and half Tuvaluan born in Samoa and brought up in a Tokelauan community in New Zealand.
Guitar, Pate Toa (rhythm log drums), Pate liki (double log drums), Pa'u Malu, skin drums, keys & flute. Neil has been with Te Vaka since 1994 and is a New Zealander. He has been involved with music for most of his life, learning piano at the age of eleven, and going on to play drums, guitar, flute and log drums.
Drum kit, log Drums, skin drums, Percussion. Born in New Zealand, Matatia is quarter Tokelauan, quarter Tuvaluan and half New Zealander. The youngest drummer in the group he started performing with Te Vaka in 2003 and makes his way around log drums, skin drums and percussion with ease and skill beyond his years
Olivia is part Tokelauan, Tuvaluan and New Zealander. Born in New Zealand she has performed with Te Vaka since 2005. As with many members of the group, Olivia is multi-talented and loves to perform - singing and playing keyboards when she is not dancing.
Lead Dancer. Half Tokelauan, quarter Cook Island and quarter Tuvaluan, born in New Zealand. He has been dancing since the age of five. Joining Te Vaka in 1997, he made his debut at WOMAD Pacifica. Since being with the band he has contributed his traditional and contemporary dance skills and also assists with choreography for the stage shows.
Tremayne was born in New Zealand . Part Niuean, Cook Island, Maori and European, Tremayne is a passionate dancer. She joined Te Vaka at the beginning of 2005 and has been stunning audiences around the world ever since.
Singer & dancer. Talaga is full Tokelauan, born in Tokelau. He joins Te Vaka on tour for the first time in 2007but his voice can be heard on the first Te Vaka album recorded in 1996.
Liana is Tokelauan/Samoan born in New Zealand. She is the newest member of the Te Vaka family. As well as a being fluent in the Tokelau language, Liana has been dancing the Samoan Siva and Tokelau fatele since she was very young. Her first performance with Te Vaka was in 2008 at the Australian Songwriter awards where the band won "Best performance of the night".
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