The Wellington Jazz Festival is about to kick off, and our guest picking the music over the next hour is multi-award-winning composer, singer/songwriter and festival co-director Tama Waipara.
Tama grew up in New Zealand and studied in New York City, receiving masters in music. After experiencing a life changing head injury he returned home to Aotearoa and, alongside composition, has been an advocate for the development and promotion of Māori music in many different roles over the last two decades.
After working at the Auckland Arts Festival he then went onto become Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival since founding it in 2019.
Tama is now the Co director of Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts; Wellington Jazz Festival.
The Wellington Jazz Festival runs from Oct 16 to Oct 20.
Tama Waipara Photo: Strike Photography
