Aro heading down South for Matariki Te Waipounamu 2022
Aro, a musical duo from Pukekohe, will be visiting Dunedin, Invercargill and Southland schools, marae and libraries over the next fortnight as
part of the 2022 Yellow Eye Artists In Schools Alongside Festivals & Events Te Urungi project with the Ministry of Arts & Culture.
Aro is made up of husband and wife Charles (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Te Ata, Te Ati Awa) and Emily Looker (nee Rice). The bilingual duo share a passion for the power of language and music to tell stories and remind us of our cultural identity. Aro’s signature playful and uplifting sound, using a plethora of instruments and taonga pūoro, including guitars, strings and saxophone. A multi-genre offering of storytelling pop, RnB, electronic and jazz, fusing vocals, tāonga puoro and chants, each song also thematically explores the ideas of kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga – looking after ourselves, looking after each other and looking after our environment. The group will present an education programme delivering workshops, informed by mātauranga Māori of our natural environment in Aotearoa New Zealand, to primary schools, libraries and kura kaupapa Māori. These participatory sessions will encourage the pre-teen children to become part of the show performance that follows.
With thanks to Dunedin/ Invercargill & Southland Creative Communities as well as Puaka Matariki & Tuturu Trust Festivals, Aro will be putting on the following free public performances with workshops:
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Invercargill Library Sat June 25th
Free children’s workshop 10.15 -11.15 am
Winton Library Sat June 25th 2pm
Free children’s workshop 2-3pm
Tūturu Charitable Trust Matariki Festival Queens Park Invercargill Friday 24th & Saturday 25th 6pm – 6.20pm on the main stage with participating school children invites
Puketeraki Marae Karitane Thursday June 30th
Araiteuru Marae Dunedin Saturday July 2nd
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They are also visiting the following schools from June 20-25: Bluff / St Teresa’s / Fernworth / Otatara / St Patrick’s / Waihopai / Winton / Te Wharekura o Arowhenua / SIT Music School (workshop & industry discussion)
June 27 – July 1: Fairfield / Green Island / Māori Hill / Opoho / Puketeraki Marae with Waitati / Warrington / Karitane & Waikouaiti / Abbotsford / Columba / Araiteuru Marae with Bradford / Concord / Kura Otepoti & St Marys.
This is the second year of the programme (Rob Thorne – Porotiti mindfulness year one) and all is developing to become an annual affair around this Matariki Festival time across Otago and Southland with different touring artists who have participatory workshops for children.
