Teremoana Rapley

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Teremoana Rapley
Rapley in 2022
Born1973 (age 50–51)
Upper Hutt, New Zealand
Occupation(s)Musical artist, television presenter, television producer
Years active1987–present
Known forUpper Hutt Posse, Moana and the Moahunters, What Now, Mai Time
Websiteteremoana.com

Tere Veronica Rapley MNZM (born 1973), generally known as Teremoana Rapley, is a New Zealand musician, television presenter and television producer, best known for her work in the 1990s with Upper Hutt Posse and Moana and the Moahunters.

In the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, Rapley was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to music and television.[1]

History[edit]

Rapley joined hip hop group Upper Hutt Posse in 1987, aged 14. She sang on the group's early tracks, including "Stormy Weather" and "Ragga Girl" and featured on the group's 1989 album Against the Flow.[2]

In 1989 Rapley joined Moana Maniapoto's hip hop and pop trio Moana and the Moahunters. The group released two albums, Tahi and Rua and had chart success with many singles, including "Black Pearl", "A.E.I.O.U." and "Peace, Love & Family".[3] Rapley's work with Moana and the Moahunters saw her awarded Most Promising Female Vocalist at the 1992 New Zealand Music Awards.[4] Rapley describes herself as having "voluntarily pulled out of mainstream media with her music after realising that the industry is based on looks and not artistry."[5][non-primary source needed]

In the 1990s Rapley also provided guest vocals on tracks from other artists, including "Sitting by the Telephone" by Unitone Hi Fi, "Body Rhymes (Protect Yourself)" by MC OJ and Rhythm Slave, "Horified One" by Dam Native and "In Summer" by David Parker.[6]

In 1995 Rapley turned her attentions to a solo career, releasing the singles "Beautiful People" and a cover of the Nina Simone song "Four Women", and was awarded Best Female Vocalist at the 1996 New Zealand Music Awards.[7]

Rapley continued to work from her home studio she had set up since 1992 that started with a Fostex 4-track cassette recorder and Dr.T's music software on Atari 1040ST. She has composed title music for television programmes, commercial music work for Air NZ and Coca-Cola as well as working on tracks for her upcoming album.

Rapley has worked with Bill Urale King Kapisi. She has featured on his singles "Saboteur" and "Lollipop".[6] Teremoana and King Kapisi used to run The Plantation Store, which included Kapisi’ Overstayer clothing range.[8]

Rapley is also known for her television presenting work. In 1995 she joined long-running New Zealand children's television show What Now as a field reporter. From 1996 to 2001, Teremoana was a presenter on TV2's Maori youth magazine programme Mai Time.[9]

After the birth of her fourth and youngest child, she moved permanently behind the camera holding many roles including director, camera operator, editor, scriptwriter, production manager and producer.[10] In 2015, after 10 years of service, Rapley resigned as a producer at the Maori Television Service in Auckland, New Zealand having produced over 1400 television programmes for the station and gained over 3000 production credits to her name.[11]

Discography[edit]

Singles[edit]

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
NZ
1995 "Beautiful People" Non-album single
"Four Women" Non-album single
2003 "Life" (with Submariner and Mark de Clive Lowe) Non-album single
2011 "Purerehua" He Rangi Paihuarere
"Dreamswimmer" Ihimaera
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist[edit]

Year Title Performing with Peak chart positions Album
NZ
1992 "Homegirl" Riot Riddum Sound System Deepgrooves
"Body Rhymes (Protect Yourself)" MC OJ & Rhythm Slave What Can We Say?
"In Summer I Fall" David Parker 35[12] Release
1993 "Sitting by the Phone" Unitone Hifi Non-album single
1995 "Horified One" Dam Native Kaupapa Driven Rhymes Uplifted
1996 "Love Has No Name" Babble Ether
2001 "Saboteur" King Kapisi Savage Thoughts
"U Say" Del Rey System Del Rey System
2006 "Lollipop" King Kapisi Dominant Species
2010 "Superhuman" (featuring The Mint Chicks) Hip Hop Lives Here
2012 "Won't Stop, Can't Stop"
2013 "Crush" (featuring Rakaa Iriscience)
2014 "Down with the King" (featuring Mr Thing)
"Welcome Back"
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

See also[edit]

Awards[edit]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1989 Upper Hutt Posse 1989 New Zealand Music Awards – Most Promising Group Nominated[13]
1992 Teremoana Rapley (Moana and the Moahunters) 1992 New Zealand Music Awards – Most Promising Female Vocalist Won[4]
1996 "Give it Up Now" (Moana and the Moahunters) 1996 New Zealand Music Awards – Best Mana Maori Album Nominated[7]
1996 "Akona Te Reo '95" (Moana and the Moahunters) 1996 New Zealand Music Awards – Best Mana Reo Album Nominated[7]
1996 Teremoana Rapley 1996 New Zealand Music Awards – Best Female Vocalist Won[7]
2014 Teremoana Rapley 2014 Tangireka Music Awards – Cook Islander in Mainstream Won

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2021". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  2. ^ McLennan, Peter (24 May 2012). "Teremoana Rapley". Dub Dot Dash. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  3. ^ "Moana and the Moahunters discography". charts.nz. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  4. ^ a b "1992 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  5. ^ "About Teremoana Rapley". Facebook. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Biography". Teremoana Rapley. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  7. ^ a b c d "1996 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  8. ^ "About Us". The Plantation Store. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  9. ^ "Mai Time". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  10. ^ "Black Moana Sovereign Storyteller Teremoana Rapley".
  11. ^ "HAA 14/05/2009 - Moving Image F114736 - Online Catalogue | Ngā Taonga…". Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  12. ^ "David Parker". charts.nz. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  13. ^ "1989 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2013.

External links[edit]