The Members
NEIL FORREST
He is a founding member, being with the band since 1994. he is a man of many talents playing Bass guitar, flute, percussion and even occasionally singing.
DOUGLAS BERNARD
He originally joined the band as a vocalist however his diverse talents as a keyboardist and percussionist were showed off in later tracks. he was born in somoa.
MATATIA FOA'I
He is a percussionist for Te Vaka, he joined the band at the age of 6! he has been instrumental in shaping the band over the years. He was also born in Somoa.
OLIVIA FOA'I
She is a singer dancer and choreographer for Te Vaka. She has featured on many of Te Veka's songs and amazed audiences across the globe with her contemporary pacific dances and amazing voice. She too was born in Somoa.
OPETAIA FOA'I
He is the founder of the group. He spreads the story of his navigating ancestors through his music. he was born in Somoa.
SULATA FOAI-AMIATU
A vocalist for the group, her unique Pacific vocal sound landed her a part as one of the founding members. She was born in Tokelau.
JOE TOOMATA
He was born in Somoa and grew up in the busy village of Apia before moving to New Zealand. he is a skilled electric guitarist and percussionist.
ETUENI PITA
Another one of Te Vaka's original members he has wowed the global stage with his charm and expertise in Polynesian dance. He maintains authenticity and pride in his culture and Polynesian routes. he was born in Tokelau
OPETAIA FOA'I
He is the newest member of Te Vaka bringing with him a background in modern dance blended with his love of his Somoan heritage and culture.
Styles And Musical Influence
CONTEMPARY PACIFIC
The style of the group is contemporary pacific music. This concept is vital to the band as it connects the listener to the geographical area of Polynesia. Polynesian music is influenced by the culture and traditions of the specific island where the music comes from. Islanders would travel among the island and adopt, mix and match styles to create new and exciting sounds. This is exactly what Te Vaka has achieved with its diverse members.
Musical Examples
Achievements
AWARDS
Te Vaka have been nominated for and won many awards during the time, including 5 New Zealand music awards, 4 Pacific music awards and a grammy nomination. It's safe to say Te Vaka's musical and performance abilities have been recognised worldwide.
MOANA
The group even worked on many of the songs for the soundtrack of the 2016 Disney feature film 'Moana' This movie was majorly successful and the group was recognised critically for their contribution to the movie.