Matariki songwriting competition winner announced

The inaugural Matariki songwriting competition for Auckland secondary school students has been won by Eden Tautali, who lives in Manukau and attends St Cuthbert’s College in Epsom.

The talented teenager, whose win was announced on TV2’s 'I Am TV' show on Saturday, will now go on to perform her winning song, Poukura, during the star-studded Tiramarama concert happening as part of Matariki Festival 2011.

Eden, who is of Maori and Samoan descent, was one of 12 finalists in the songwriting competition organised by Auckland Council and Play it Strange to inspire a celebration of Maori New Year, which is heralded by the arrival of the Matariki star cluster.

She says she named her winning song Poukara after her marae in Taupo because that is where she can see the stars the best.

Auckland Council Community Arts Co-ordinator Hinewehi Mohi, the co-producer of the song-writing competition and the producer of Tiramarama, says Eden’s first attempt at songwriting was beautiful and ethereal. 

“Her voice is sublime too, and as American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez would say she ‘gives me goosies all over’!”, so I’m sure her star will shine brightly at the Tiramarama concert.”

Each of the finalists has had the opportunity to professionally record their song at Andrew Buckton's Studio 203 for a special Matariki CD, however only Eden has won the chance to share the stage with stars including Stan Walker, Adeaze, Ardijah and the Nathan Haines Band at Tiramarama, which is on Friday 24 June at the Aotea Centre.

The other finalists were (in alphabetical order by song title):

• Rehia Rupuha from Te Kura o Hoani Waititi for Atua
• Petra Bullock from Takapuna Grammar School for Comfortable Silence
• Charlotte Goodwin from Kaipara College for Fire
• Brooke Waterson from Kaipara College for Matariki
• Te Ahorangi Winitana from Te Kura o Ahorangi for Matariki - Oku Mareikura
• Hinemaia Ngatai-Smith from Western Springs College for My Imaginery World
• Arihia Cassidy and Tahu Henare from Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae for Snakes and Ladders
• Roxy van Dam from Kaipara College for Take My Hand
• Savannah Cox from Kaipara College for The Night Before The Dawn
• Salote King from Kaipara College for Watching Tiny Eyes
• Avalon Hewitt from Kaipara College for When Stars Collide

Play it Strange CEO Mike Chunn says school students embraced the concept of thematic songwriting in the inaugural competition organised in celebration of Matariki, Maori New Year.

“The array of songs submitted gave us an evocative, intelligent insight into what Matariki held for those writers and we were roundly impressed."

Tickets for Tiramarama are available via www.buytickets.co.nz or 0800 BUY TICKETS.