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

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.

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. 1 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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 GayNZ.com (April 2008). "Singer/songwriter Mahinarangi Tocker dies". GayNZ.com. Retrieved 19 April 2008.
  7. ↑ muzic.net.nz
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