By Len Salt, Mayor Thames-Coromandel District Council
It was a great joy to experience Mana Mātātahi at their Matariki concert at St. George’s Church in Thames. The energy, complexity of harmonies, and interaction between the vocalists in this youth-driven chorus were outstanding.
Above all, it was abundantly clear that these kids were having fun. This was music that was immediately identifiable, toe-tapping and even “cheeky” in places. A smattering of songs in te reo Māori, a language made for music, and perfect for Matariki, the harmonies washed over the audience like warm waves of musical magic. Divine – on every level.
This was the latest in the Thames Music Group’s (TMG) Friday concert series. As with any other TMG concerts this performance was at a consistently high level. Any one of the artists or groups could hold their own on an international stage.
For those who missed this event, Fiona Cameron, Chair of Creative Coromandel, has already committed to making every effort to get Manu Mātātahi back to participate in some of CC’s events later in the year. I’ll be first in the queue when they come back to Thames or, indeed, any other part of the Coromandel district.
