The acclaimed Modern Maori Quartet is riding a wave of success picking up a performance award on their recent Asian tour, selling out performances at Christchurch Arts Festival and confirming a season in Honolulu, Hawai’i.

The acclaimed Modern Maori Quartet is riding a wave of success picking up a performance award on their recent Asian tour, selling out performances at Christchurch Arts Festival and confirming a season in Honolulu, Hawai’i.

The Maori foursome toured to Malaysia, Uzbekistan and Singapore in August resulting in receiving the ‘Most Daring & Emotional Performance’ Award at the 10th Sharq Taronalari International Music Fesitval in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

“We had such a great time at the festival,” said band member Maaka Pohatu. “We were treated like Kings the whole time and then to win the award – that was just fantastic.”

Since returning to New Zealand MMQ performed two sold-out performances at Christchurch Arts Festival. But they’re packing their bags again and heading off to perform in Hawai’i at the Kumu Kahua Theatre in Honolulu on 21 and 22 September.

New Zealand audiences still get their taste of Modern Maori Quartet as they continue to tour under the PANNZ Touring Agency banner with concerts in Palmerston North on Wednesday 30 September, in Whanganui on Thursday 1 October, and in Blenheim on Friday 2 October.

Coming together from different corners of Aotearoa, Modern Maori Quartet performs their signature cabaret show, An Evening with the Modern Maori Quartet, filled with waiata, humour and charm.

A fresh take on classic Maori showbands, Modern Maori Quartet (MMQ) are a good looking, suave and multi-talented Maori foursome who love crooning their spin on modern and classic numbers.

MMQ comprises of four talented Toi Whaakari graduates, James Tito, Maaka Pohatu, Matariki Whatarau and Francis Kora* who all lead illustrious careers outside of their work together.

In 2011 James Tito was nominated as Most Promising Male Newcomer at the 2011 Chapman Tripp Awards. He was inspired by the Maori showbands and entertainers of yesterday to establish the Modern Maori Quartet. Maaka Pohatu has performed in numerous productions such as the critically acclaimed Strange Resting Places and The Maori Troilus and Cressida, which featured at the prestigious Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Matariki Whatarau’s screen credits include Find Me A Maori Bride, The Almighty Johnsons, Go Girls and The P? Boys and for the last decade, The Pa Boys co-star Francis Kora has been a musician with (and now the frontman of) iconic NZ band KORA.

Their show promises a trip down memory lane into New Zealand's musical past and present as well as recent international hits, all with a unique Modern Maori Quartet twist and flavour.
 
“Billed as the new face of Maori showbands, handsome, hilarious and harmonious, The Modern Maori Quartet is entertainment at its best." – Theatreview
 
“The Modern Maori Quartet radiate good times” – Metro
 
“It’s not surprising that the members of MMQ are all, first and foremost, brilliant actors. Coincidentally, they happen to be amazing musicians that explode with chemistry whenever they’re in the same room.” – Regional News (Wellington)
 
*Francis Kora will be replaced by Jamie McCaskill in Palmerston North, Blenheim and Whanganui

Media Release: SWPR