Inia Te Wiata

Early life

Inia Te Wiata was born in Otaki, New Zealand, into the Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga iwi. His father, Watene Te Wiata, died in the 1918 influenza epidemic. His mother Constance Helena Johnson remarried soon afterwards and Inia was brought up by Pairoroku and Rakate Rikihana, relatives of his father. He developed an interest in singing and first performed on stage at the age of 7. He attended the Otaki state school and was taught music by Miss Edith Miller. After primary school he attended Otaki Māori College. At the age of 13 his voice broke and settled into a bass-baritone. Afterwards he joined his cousin's quartet, which included Wi Nicholls, Henry Tahiwi and Dan Rikihana. Other family members encouraged Te Wiata in his singing – particularly Mrs Mihi Taylor, a member of the Rikihana family. She taught both Te Wiata and his cousin to sing duets.

Te Wiata moved to Tūrangawaewae at Ngaruawahia in the Waikato region to pursue an interest in Māori carving, whakairo. He was taught by Piri Poutapu and was employed for three years assisting with the carving of Turongo, the house of the Māori King, which opened in 1936. During his time in Ngaruawahia he married Rose Evelyn Friar known as Ivy. They had six children Iwikau, Kirikowhai, Hinemoan', Gloria, Budgie (who died as a toddler) and Inia jnr. He also did seasonal labouring work at the Horotiu Freezing works, near Hamilton. He continued his public singing during this time and was a very active member of the Waiata Māori Choir. This choir was organised by the Superintendent of the Methodist Māori Mission, Reverend A. J. Seamer, and it toured all over New Zealand. Te Wiata's work on Turongo prevented him from joining the Choir when they toured Great Britain.

Te Wiata began to develop a circle of supporters who wished to help him further his singing education. Mr Grant of Hamilton, Mr H. D. Caro – the then Mayor of Hamilton, Dame Hilda Ross, Sir Joseph Hannan, Stewart Garland and the conductor Anderson Tyrer were all impressed by his talent. A favourable professional opinion of Te Wiata's voice was acquired from Australian singer Peter Dawson, and Anderson Tyrer was put in charge of arranging Te Wiata's study overseas. Fundraising began and a government grant was added to this and, in 1947 Te Wiata left for London for three years study at the Trinity College of Music.

Formal musical training and career

Te Wiata worked hard at his craft. In addition to his studies at Trinity College he also took private lessons from James Kennedy Scott and language lessons at the Berlitz School of Languages. To gain more experience with opera he joined the opera company run by the English soprano Joan Cross and had a resounding success with his portrayal of Sarastro from Mozart's The Magic Flute. As the end of the three-year study grant was approaching, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Peter Fraser, visited England and Te Wiata took the opportunity to apply for a grant for a fourth year. This was successful.

Nearing the end of his grant, Te Wiata decided to audition for the Covent Garden Opera Company. He was successful in his audition and was told to turn up for rehearsal the next day. He was launched into his first role in the opera company as the Speaker in The Magic Flute. He went from strength to strength, taking parts in operas The Marriage of Figaro, La bohème, Billy Budd and Gloriana – the parts for the last two being specially written for him by Benjamin Britten.

As his reputation grew, Te Wiata was also approached to perform in television and film productions. He appeared in a number of films including Man of the Moment (1955) and In Search of the Castaways (1962); and also took the lead in the film The Seekers (1954). He took part in a number of television series. He did not restrict himself to singing in pure opera but also starred in musicals including The Most Happy Fella at the London Coliseum.

In 1959 his first marriage was dissolved and he married Beryl McMillan, also a singer and actor, and they had one daughter Rima Te Wiata born in 1965 who also became an actor, later an artist. Beryl gave up acting after her marriage, to concentrate on managing Te Wiata's career.

While Te Wiata returned to New Zealand periodically, he did not settle there but continued with his singing career in the United Kingdom, living in London and creating a life there with his wife and child. Te Wiata was a popular man and had a large circle of friends and acquaintances including the comedian Spike Milligan. Te Wiata remained extremely fond of New Zealand and talked of returning there on his retirement. He maintained close links with New Zealand House in London, attending and singing at the opening of the House in 1963 and also working in the basement of New Zealand House on carving projects.

He carved a fine waka huia for Sir Thomas Macdonald, New Zealand's High Commissioner, to present to the Worshipful Company of Butchers on Macdonald's departure from London. Te Wiata also had a long-term project carving five very large totara logs. He continued working on this project in between his professional obligations but was unable to complete the work Pouihi before his death from cancer in 1971.

In the 1966 New Year Honours, Te Wiata was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services in the field of operatic singing.

Te Wiata's funeral was held at Otaki Pā, New Zealand, and the event was photographed by the New Zealand photographer, Ans Westra. Te Wiata's archive of papers is held by the National Library of New Zealand.

In November 2007, a commemorative CD/DVD was published containing previously unreleased recordings as well as a documentary film of his carving and an interview of Spike Milligan.

Selected filmography

Selected discography