TEREMOANA RAPLEY. BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

A veteran of the New Zealand hip hop scene at just 29 years of age, Teremoana Rapley launched her music career when she was 14 with Upper Hutt Posse.

Teremoana, who is a director and presenter for rangatahi television show Mai Time, says that local hip hoppers must retain their unique style and sound to compete on the international scene.

Teremoana grew up in Wellington and has worked with numerous bands as a singer and co-writer, including Upper Hutt Posse, Moana & the Moahunters, DLT, King Kapisi, Del Ray System and Dam Native.

Of Māori and Cook Island heritage, she began to write songs in the early 1980s and has since recorded and released singles including ‘Beautiful People’ and ‘Four Women’. Career highlights include performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Polynesian Music Festival in Rarotonga. Teremoana also represented New Zealand at the two WOMAD festivals held in Auckland.

She has collaborated on 17 singles throughout her career.

Teremoana Rapley has previously won the 'Female Vocalist of the Year' and 'Most Promising Vocalist' award at the New Zealand Music Awards. www.muzic.net.nz/artists