Whirimako Black
1961) is a New Zealand Māori recording artist and actress. Black sings mostly in the Māori language, uses traditional Māori musical forms, and collaborates with traditional taonga pūoro instruments. Her musical achievements include composing and singing the titles for the acclaimed Television New Zealand series, The New Zealand Wars, as well as composing with Hori Tait the initial title music for the Māori news programme, Te Karere.
Also recorded as Whiri Mako Black · Barbara Whirimako Black
Whirimako Black
New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General · https: gg.govt.nz/image-galleries/10457/media?page=8 · CC0
- Name
- Whirimako Black
- Born
- 1965 · New Zealand.
- Nationality
- New Zealand
- Occupation
- singer · songwriter · musician
- Fields
- world music
- Education
- St Joseph's Maori Girls' College
- Honours
- Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
1961) is a New Zealand Māori recording artist and actress. Black sings mostly in the Māori language, uses traditional Māori musical forms, and collaborates with traditional taonga pūoro instruments. Her musical achievements include composing and singing the titles for the acclaimed Television New Zealand series, The New Zealand Wars, as well as composing with Hori Tait the initial title music for the Māori news programme, Te Karere.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Whirimako Black. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q7993778 · wikipedia · Whirimako Black
In this article
Biography
Biography
In 1991, she formed the female Māori band Tuahine Whakairo but left in 1993, to start a solo career. Whirimako Black was born in Whakatāne, Black is of Ngāti Tūhoe, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Te Arawa, and Ngāti Awa descent. Black bears a traditional Māori tattoo, or moko kauae, on her face. In the 2006 New Year Honours, Black was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori music. Black made her acting debut in the 2013 film White Lies. She was nominated for the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actress.
Whirimako Black (left) and Daniel Hayles, performing at the Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi 2024 Icon Awards at Government House, Wellington, on 4 December 2024
New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General · https: gg.govt.nz/image-galleries/10457/media?page=8
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Whirimako Black • Honorific Suffix — MNZM • Origin — New Zealand • Genre — World music, jazz, soul • Years Active — 2000–present
Identity
Identity
Whirimako Black is recorded with the occupation songwriter. Classed in the genre world music. Recorded as singer, songwriter and musician.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1965
Whirimako Black born at New Zealand.
Discography
• Year — Album — Label • 2000 — Hinepukohurangi: Shrouded in the Mist — Muscle Music • 2003 — Hohou Te Rongo: Cultivate Peace — Mai Music • 2004 — Tangihaku — Mai Music • 2005 — Kura Huna — Mai Music • 2006 — Soul Sessions — Mai Music • 2007 — Whirimako Black Sings — Mai Music
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Whirimako Black”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q7993778: Whirimako Black
General reference · Wikidata
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
42,934 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- What the DuckOrganisation
- What? RecordsOrganisation
- Wheresville RecordsOrganisation
- WhigfieldPerson
- Whirlwind RecordingsOrganisation
- Whistlin' Alex MoorePerson
- Whit DickeyPerson
- White Label MusicOrganisation
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Whirimako Black?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.