The Band Line Up 2010
Opetaia Foa'i
Band leader, guitarist, percussionist lead singer and song writer for Te Vaka. Opetaia has written and arranged all the band's material as well as co-produced the five Te Vaka albums. Opetaia has been described as ..."one of New Zealand's finest songwriters - his sentiments are universal and his subjects deeply personal"...
Singer & dancer. Talaga is full Tokelauan, born in Tokelau. He joins Te Vaka on tour for the first time in 2007 but his voice can be heard on the first Te Vaka album recorded in 1996.
Drum kit, Pate Toa (rhythm log drums), Pate liki (double log drums) He is quarter Tokelauan, quarter Tuvaluan and half New Zealander. Manase joined Te Vaka in 1995 as a log drummer and percussionist but by 2001 he had taken over the drum kit. He now alternates between drum kit and log drums.
Bass player and Pau'u Malu (goa t skin bass drum). Luavasa has been
with Te Vaka since 1994. He left the band in 2000 but is now back on
the bass. Vasa is half Tokelauan and half Tuvaluan born in Samoa and
brought up in a Tokelauan community in New Zealand.
Lead Guitar, Pate Toa (rhythm log drums), Pate liki (double log drums), Pa'u Malu, skin drums& flute. Neil has been with Te Vaka since 1994 and is a New Zealander. He has been involved with music for most of his life, learning piano at the age of eleven, and going on to play drums, guitar, flute and log drums.
Drum kit, log Drums, skin drums, Percussion. Born in New Zealand, Matatia is quarter Tokelauan, quarter Tuvaluan and half New Zealander. He joined Te Vaka in 2003 and makes his way around log drums, skin drums, percussion and drumkit with ease and skill beyond his years.
Lead Dancer. Half Tokelauan, quarter Cook Island and quarter Tuvaluan, born in New Zealand. He has been dancing since the age of five. Joining Te Vaka in 1997, he made his debut at WOMAD Pacifica. Since being with the band he has contributed his traditional and contemporary dance skills and also assists with choreography for the stage shows.
Tremayne was born in New Zealand . Part Niuean, Cook Island, Maori and European, Tremayne is a passionate dancer. She joined Te Vaka at the beginning of 2005 and has been stunning audiences around the world ever since.
Olivia is part Tokelau, Tuvalu and New Zealander. Born in New Zealand she has danced with Te Vaka since 2005. As with many members of the group, Olivia is multi-talented singing and playing keyboards when she is not dancing.
