Photos from the Doctoral conferral, 2009

Dr Gillian Whitehead and Dr Richard Nunns

Dr Gillian Whitehead, Jamie Bull, and Dr Richard Nunns

• 2011 The NZSQ CD Notes from a Journey, which includes He Poroporoaki composed by Gareth Farr and Richard Nunns, won the Best Classical Album in the New Zealand Music Awards
• 2007 :: Te Whaiao
  Te Whaiao: Te Ku Te Whe Remixed won the Tui award for the best Maori album in the New Zealand Music Awards 2007
• 2006 :: Spirit of the Land,
  won best classical album New Zealand Music Awards 2006
• 2006 :: He Ara Puoro was commended as a finalist in 2006 Media Peace Awards.
• 2005 :: Te Hekenga-a-rangi, finalist in the New Zealand Music Awards 2005
• 2002 :: Te Ku Te Whe gained gold status

Great New Zealanders; distinguished scholars and artists; two of the most important musicians in a generation

Richard Nunns with daughter Molly (left) and wife Rachel (right)

Hirini's wife Jan Melbourne with daughters Hineani (left) and Mahina (right)

Maori composer, music educator and author the late Hirini Melbourne (Tuhoe and Ngati Kahungunu) began his teaching career as a primary school teacher, writing songs for children and became renowned for his work in Maori language as well as music. Today, students in most classrooms in Aotearoa have been exposed to Hirini’s songs, creating a long lasting connection between his music, Maori language and many thousands of young people.

Richard Nunns is one of New Zealand’s most remarkable musicians. From the extremes of avant-guard jazz this red-haired Pakeha has become a living authority on Taonga Puoro (Maori traditional instruments) a journey that required a great deal of “respect, perseverance and sensitivity” — all of which is illustrated in his music.

It was together however through a collaboration lasting over 20 years that these two great friends (together with master carver Brian Flintoff) went about the gentle re-awakening of the traditional Maori instruments that had been lying silent in museums for generations. Today, we have grown accustomed to hearing the voices of these instruments in our music, in kapa haka, in the background of radio or television programmes, in contemporary music (via the likes of Tiki Taane) or the sound for instance of the purerehua (the bull-roarer) at All Black games. Without thinking too much about it we simply assume that the music has always been there. This is far from the case. Without the commitment, patience and hard work of these two, who combined artistic ability and dedicated research, the ancestral voices would still be silent.

“This is one of the most significant stories in New Zealand music — an instrumental tradition lost for more than a century but, against all odds, bought back to life. It’s an extraordinary story of extraordinary people” says APRA’s Director of NZ Operations, Anthony Healey.

“These two and their achievements sit right alongside the icons of NZ music. Like Ray Columbus and the Invaders, Jordan Luck, the Topp Twins or Straitjacket Fits, Hirini and Richard’s achievements are long-lasting and hugely significant” he says.

On Thursday 17 September Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns were honoured at the 2009 APRA Silver Scroll Awards — Christchurch Town Hall — as 2009 inductees to the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.

Richard Nunns, left, and Brian Flintoff have received Queen's Service Medals Marion van Dijk/

Richard Nunns and instrument maker Brian Flintoff received Queen’s Service Medals in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday honours list.

“It has been a fascinating challenge to discover music and instruments which only existed in distant memory.” Richard Nunns

“You can see the recognition of these instruments in the laughter and tears of the elders who hear this music and remember their sound.” Brian Flintoff

Read the story at the Nelson Mail