Ngahiwi Āpanui was born at Te Puia Springs on the East Coast, and was educated at Te Waha o Rerekohu Primary School, Te Araroa, and St Stephen’s School. After a year employed in clerical work he went to Victoria University and graduated with a B.A. majoring in Māori Studies in 1988. For a number of years he has been involved in composition and recording music. From 1985-1990 he was part of a band called Aotearoa and from 1988-1992 was employed in production work for radio. In 1992 he became manager of Radio Ngāti Porou in Ruatoria. He writes songs and is very involved in national Māori radio issues.
Biographical sources
- Phone conversation with Ngahiwi āpanui on 14 June 1998.
- Te Ao Mārama: Contemporary Māori Writing. Comp. and ed. Witi Ihimaera. Contributing ed. Haare Williams, Irihapeti Ramsden and D. S. Long. Vol. 5: Te Torino: The Spiral. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 1996. 165.
Children's literature
- Nga Kupu Pakeha: an English-Māori Dictionary for Children. Comp. Ian Maxwell, Ngahiwi Apanui and Richard Benton. Production ed. Ian Maxwell and Ngahiwi Apanui. Project Director Richard Benton. Wellington, N.Z.: Wahanga Māori, NZCER, 1987.
- A children’s English-Māori dictionary with simple definitions in Māori. The authors state that this is ‘a draft version of a dictionary in preparation, for field-testing in selected schools.’
Music
- "Tu Mai Rā." Te Ao Mārama: Contemporary Māori Writing. Comp. and ed. Witi Ihimaera. Contributing ed. Haare Williams, Irihapeti Ramsden and D. S. Long. Vol. 5: Te Torino: The Spiral. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 1996. 165.
Sound recordings
- Tihei Mauriora. Petone, NZ: Jayrem Records, 1985.
- A recording by Aotearoa.
- Te Waiata Mo Te Iwi/Singing For Our People. Petone, NZ: Jayrem Records, 1986.
- A recording by Aotearoa.
- Revolution For Want Of A Better Word. Petone, NZ: Jayrem Records, 1987.
- An EP recording
- Tu Mai Rā. Petone, NZ: Jayrem Records, 1988.
- Solo album by Apanui.
- Te Hono Ki Te Kainga [The Link With The Homeland]. Petone, NZ: Jayrem Records, 1989.
- Solo album by Apanui.
- Sisters In Reggae. Compilation by Jayrem Records, Petone, NZ: FARI Records, 1991.
- This tape contains a song written by Apanui entitled "Sweet child" which is performed by Ngapera Hoerara.