Contributor
Adrian Tangaroa Wagner
Composer, Māori Composer, Performer, Presenter
Biography
Te Whānau ā Apanui, Te Ātiawa, Te Ati Haunui ā Pāpārangi (Whanganui), Ngāti Hauiti, Ngāti Apa, Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko O Te Ika, Ngāti Kahungunu
Adrian was raised in Wellington, Porirua and Whanarua Bay (East Coast, North Island). Adrian also lived in England as a child. He has long composed songs about his experiences and influences living in South Sheilds (north of England), then London where he was exposed to many different genres including, Ska Reggae, Jazz, Pop and Māori music. On his return to New Zealand he attended Victoria University and completed a BA in Māori Studies. During this time two of Adrians brothers also returned to New Zealand and they formed the group The Wagner Brothers.
The Wagner Brothers:
Brothers Adrian and Marc Wagner fuse ska and reggae with Māori language to deliver their dancehall debut, 'The Wagner Brothers'. They have also co-composed with brother Richard Wagner. The Wagner Brother EP was engineered by electronica extraordinaire Paddy Free and George Nepia III a.k.a. 'Hori Dabbler'. This EP is set to get people 'movin and shakin' with a Sha-Māori style of music and is bi-lingual with te reo Māori and English. The EP 'The Wagner Brothers' is a fantastic feat as Marc lives in Sydney, Adrian lives in Wellington and Richard in Waikaremoana.
Te Upoko o te Ika - New Zealand's first Māori Radio Station and other positions:
Adrian is the General Manager of Radio Te Upoko o te Ika. He is also the Kaipāpāho - Hōtaka - Tōrangapū (announcer of the Tōrangapū Political) Show. I tīmata ia ki te mahi i Te Upoko i te tau 1995 hei kai rīwhi mō Henare Kingi mō te wā poto noaiho nei, engari i te tau 2004 i tonoa ia hei kaipāpāho. Atu i tērā wā kua mahi ia i ngā momo tūranga o te teihana. Prior to Adrian's current position with Te Upoko o te Ika he worked with Māori Television as a reporter with Te Kaea (Te Ao) news and prior with the Film Archive.
Adrian has also co-composed te reo Māori compositions with wife Toni Huata where these waiata were recording and included in Toni's albums. Adrian is also a co director in the entertainment business WaaHuu Creations. Waahuu Creations is an entertainment business that specialise in event management, music and show production, theatre and film performance, youth drama & performance training, team building, motivational speaking, vocal training, retail and distribution. Internationally, WaaHuu have developed markets throughout the USA, Europe, Pacific, Asia and Aotearoa.