Modern Māori Quartet Seeks Crowd-funding to take Māori Showband Entertainment to Asia

Suave crooners Modern Māori Quartet are taking their music to Asia in August on a concert tour to Singapore, Malaysia and Uzbekistan, and they’re seeking crowd-funding to help pay for some of the extra costs.

The quartet who offer up a fresh take on the classic Māori showbands have been invited to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the 10th Sharq Taronalari International Music Festival in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and on the way are playing at PJ Live Arts in Malaysia and SingJazz Club in Singapore.

While Creative New Zealand and the Sharq Taronalari International Music Festival are funding international flights, freight and rehearsal costs, the quartet has launched a Boosted crowd-funding campaign to raise the extra funds for accommodation, on-ground costs and new suits.

“We reckon we might be the first Māori showband to perform in central Asia,” says founding member Maaka Pohatu who admits that he and the rest of the quartet had to resort to Google to find out where they were heading.

“This is a special opportunity for us to show new and diverse audiences in Asia a slice of Aotearoa.”


Photo courtesy of SWPR.

Meanwhile New Zealanders still get to enjoy the Modern Māori Quartet’s spin on modern and classic numbers in their signature cabaret show filled with waiata, humour and charm.

The Modern Māori Quartet heads off on tour with the PANNZ Touring Agency beginning in Auckland on Tuesday 4 August at SKYCITY Theatre, ahead of shows in Hamilton, Tauranga and New Plymouth. Following the Asia tour, they’ll be back playing in Christchurch, Palmerston North, Whanganui and Blenheim.

Help the Modern Māori Quartet get to Asia by donating at www.boosted.org.nz and catch their concerts on tour – details at www.pannz.org.nz or visit www.modernmaoriquartet.nz.