Aroha Cassidy-Nanai

Aroha Cassidy-Nanai is a performing member of one of New Zealand’s most successful and distinguished groups, Te Waka Huia, which has won the Aotearoa Mäori Festival three times. She has been involved with the group since 1981 and has represented New Zealand in many overseas performances, promoting tourism and culture for this country. Through her culture she has traveled extensively; to the Opening Ceremony for the Seoul Olympics in 1988, The World Expo in Seville, Spain in 1994, The South Pacific Arts Festival in Australia and the Cook Islands, and Canada for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games.

 

She has been involved with the NZ Youth Choir and Voices NZ for a number of years. Aroha assisted the Youth Choir in two World Symposia and its successful competitions in Wales and Gorizia, Italy. Aroha is currently teaching at Long Bay College in Auckland, and has also assisted the Key Cygnatures Girls Choir from Westlake Girls' High. She has a Bachelor of Education in Maori and a teaching Diploma.