Mahinārangi Tocker

Mahinārangi Tocker MNZM (1955[1] – 15 April 2008) was a singer-songwriter from New Zealand. Tocker wrote more than 600 songs in a 25-year career.[2] Her vocal style has been compared to that of Joan Armatrading and Tracy Chapman.[3] She also gave lectures around New Zealand about the use of music and creativity to boost learning and self-esteem, and was an adult literacy tutor, writer and poet.

Mahinārangi Tocker
Tocker at the 2007 Auckland Folk Festival
Tocker at the 2007 Auckland Folk Festival
Background information
Born1955
Died15 April 2008(2008-04-15) (aged 52–53)
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active1985–2008

Biography

Tocker was born in Taumarunui and was of Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Jewish and Celtic ancestry.[2] Tocker spent much of her life at Glendene in West Auckland.[4]

In the 2008 New Year Honours, Tocker was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music.[5]

Tocker died on 15 April 2008 in Auckland's North Shore hospital following a severe asthma attack. She was 52.[6] Her final performance had been at the Titirangi Festival of Music in March 2008.[4] A memorial tree was planted for her at Falls Park in Henderson.[4]

Personal life

Tocker came out openly as a lesbian.[6] Tocker openly talked about her diagnosis with bipolar disorder.[4]

Discography

Albums [7]

  • 1985 Clothesline Conversation
  • 1987 I'm Going Home
  • 1996 Mahinarangi
  • 1997 Te Ripo
  • 2002 Hei Ha!
  • 2002 Touring (With Charlotte Yates)
  • 2005 The Mongrel in Me

References
  1. "Mahinarangi Tocker: Singer from the heartland". Dominion Post. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
  2. Kiran Dass (October 2005). "The Mongrel in Mahinarangi". NZ Musician Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 October 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  3. "Musician Mahinarangi Tocker dies age 52". New Zealand Herald. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
  4. Jahn-Werner, Tara (2009). "The Children of Hauauru". In Macdonald, Finlay; Kerr, Ruth (eds.). West: The History of Waitakere. Random House. p. 356. ISBN 9781869790080.
  5. "New Year honours list 2008". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  6. GayNZ.com (April 2008). "Singer/songwriter Mahinarangi Tocker dies". GayNZ.com. Retrieved 19 April 2008.
  7. muzic.net.nz
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