Dean J. (Te Kupu) Hapeta

1966 -

Dean Hapeta, aka Te Kupu (The Word), is a multi-media performing artist. He has been producing socio-politically charged rap, poetry, music and film/video with Upper Hutt Posse (as principal songwriter/lead vocalist), and as a solo recording artist since 1985. He is a seminal figure in the Aotearoa Hip Hop community and sometimes works as a radio DJ. He was a keynote speaker at the 2001 New Zealand Hip Hop Summit. He is currently producing a four-part rapumentary (music-documentary) series on native and marginalised people’s art and activism in twenty countries, (titled Ngatahi – Know The Links).

Te Kupu’s solo projects include musical recordings, music videos and live musical/poetry performances at local and international events including spoken word performances at Music West, Canada (1996), Sydney, Australia (1997), and at Womad, Auckland, N.Z. (1997). He has given poetry readings at the XIth International Poetry Festival of Medellin, Colombia (2001), the Internatiional Poetry Festival of Cartagena (2002), and the first Wellington International Poetry Festival (2003). He has been a speaker at the International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM) Conferences in Sydney (1999) and Aotearoa (2000, 2003).

Dean worked as a Research Officer under Moana Jackson on a special programme looking at Māori and the criminal justice system from 1985-88. He has completed a Diploma of Māori Laws and Philosophy from Te Wananga o Raukawa in 1996, and has completed various papers towards a Bachelor of Māori Laws and Philosophy. His website is www.tekupu.com.



Biographical sources

  • Email correspondence and Curriculum Vitae from Dean Hapeta, 20 and 21 May 2004, and 22 and 24 August 2005.
  • Te Ao Mārama: Contemporary Māori Writing. Comp. and ed. Witi Ihimaera. Contributing ed. Haare Williams, Irihapeti Ramsden and D. S. Long. Vol. 3: Te Puāwaitanga O Te Kōrero: The Flowering. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 1993. 327.
  • New Zealand Writing: The NeXt Wave. Ed. Mark Pirie. Dunedin, N.Z.: U of Otago P, 1998. 266.

    Films/Video

  • E Tu. 1988. No further details.
  • Tangata Whenua. 1988.
  • Do It Like This. 1989.
  • That’s The Beat. 1990.
  • Do It Like This Remix. 1990.
  • Stormy Weather Remix. 1991.
  • Ragga Girl. 1992.
  • Solidarity. 1992.
  • Hapeta was co-director of this short music documentary of the Upper Hutt Posse’s visit to the United States. The documentary was screened on "Marae" on TV One in October 1992. Hapeta and Rongotai Lomas composed the music for this documentary.
  • Whakakotahi. 1993.
  • Can’t Get Away. 1995.
  • As The Blind See. 1995.
  • Dread On A Mission. 1997.
  • Ma Te Wa. 2000.
  • Māori. 2001.
  • Te Hono Whakakoro. 2003.
  • Ngatahi – Know The Links. (Parts One and Two). 2000-2004.
  • Hapeta was producer, director, editor and camera operator for this four-part rapumentary on native and marginalised people’s music, art and activism. It was filmed in Canada, USA, France, England, Jamaica, Hawai’i, Colombia, Cuba, Australia and Aotearoa. [Official Selection – Sundance Film Festival 2004]

    • Music

  • "Whakakotahi." Rampike 11/2 (200?): 37.
  • Two songs recorded by Upper Hutt Posse in their album Movement in Demand in 1995.
  • E Tu. 1988. No further details.
  • Against the Flow. 1989. No further details.
  • Do It Like This. 1989. No further details.
  • Do It Like This Remix. 1990. No further details.
  • That’s The Beat/Against the Flow. 1990. No further details.
  • Hapeta, Dean. Black Pearl. Moana and the Moa Hunters, 1991.
  • Dean wrote verse and rapped this song
  • Ragga Girl. 1992. No further details.
  • "Stormy Weather." Te Ao Mārama: Contemporary Māori Writing. Comp. and ed. Witi Ihimaera. Contributing ed. Haare Williams, Irihapeti Ramsden and D. S. Long. Vol. 3: Te Puāwaitanga O Te Kōrero: The Flowering. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 1993. 327-328.
  • This song, recorded on the album Against the Flow which was released in 1989, heralds further stormy weather in world events and international relationships.
  • Whakakotahi. 1993. No further details.
  • "Rebellion – the usurpation." Movement in Demand. [Album] Recorded Sept./Oct. 1994. Rpt. online http://www.blackmailpress.com/DH9.html 13 June 2008.
  • Movement in Demand. 1995. No further details.
  • As The Blind See. 1995. No further details.
  • Can’t Get Away. 1995. No further details.
  • "True Justice." ibid. 328-329. Rpt. in New Zealand Writing: The NeXt Wave. Ed. Mark Pirie. Dunedin, N.Z.: U of Otago P, 1998. 111-112.
  • The composer writes of the absence of true justice for Māori in New Zealand.
  • "Gun in My Hand." ibid. 117-118. Rpt. In JAAM: Just Another Art Movement 10 (1998): 122-124.
  • This song was recorded by Upper Hutt Posse on their album Movement in Demand in 1995.
  • Ko Te Matakahi Kupu (The Words which Penetrate). Māori and English language versions, 2000. No further details.
  • Ma Te Wa. 2000. No further details.
  • Hapeta, Dean, producer, arranger. Tricksta (‘Tricks’ Version) Voodoo Chile, 2000.
  • Te Reo Māori Remixes. 2002. No further details.
  • Hapeta, Dean, producer, arranger. Ko te Matakahi Kupu. 1999. Ma Te Wa. 2000. Anei Ko Te Wiya. 2001.Te Reo Māori Remixes. 2002.
  • Māori language interview discs for recordings.
  • Hapeta, Dean, producer, arranger. Standing Ground. Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm and the Nishin Spoken Word Project, 2001-2003. [Album]
  • Lyrics/poetry: Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm music: Te Kupu vocals: Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm drum and bass: Te Kupu organ/synthesizer Te Kupu saxophone: Joy Harjo background vocals: John Thorp flutes: Lucho Abanto slide guitar: Raven Kanatakta Polson-Lahache guitar: Marcos Arcentales charango: Marcos Arcentales recorded at Kia Kaha Productions, Aotearoa, Nishin Sounds, Cape Croker/Ottawa, & Mekko Productions, Honolulu.
  • Dedicated ‘88-’91. 2004. No further details.
  • Legacy. 2005. No further details.
  • Overcome. 2005. No further details.
  • Hapeta, Dean. Composed and performed the song. "Speak to Me, Brother." Tuwhare. [CD] May 2005.
  • Hapeta has written and performed in a musical setting one of Hone Tuwhare’s poems, along with a number of other top New Zealand musicians. This special project resulted in the CD Tuwhare.

    • Non-fiction

  • "Dean Hapeta Aka Te Kupu, D Word." Blackmail Press [internet resource], 2004. Online http://www.blackmailpress.com/DH9.html 13 June 2008.
  • Contains a lengthy biography and seven poems by Hapeta.

    • Other

  • Melbourne, Hirini. "Traditionalist Reviews The Latest Work Of Hip Hop Artist." Tu mai: offering an indegenous New Zealand perspective 11 (2000): 23.
  • Thornley, John. "’If You Have Ears, Pay Attention!’: Music Notes On Maori And Pacific Artists 1999/2000." Music in the Air 10 (2000): 10-12.

  • Poetry

  • "E Tu." Te Ao Mārama: Contemporary Māori Writing. Comp. and ed. Witi Ihimaera. Contributing ed. Haare Williams, Irihapeti Ramsden and D. S. Long. Vol. 3: Te Puāwaitanga O Te Kōrero: The Flowering. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 1993. 329-330. Rpt. in New Zealand Writing: The NeXt Wave. Ed. Mark Pirie. Dunedin, N.Z.: U of Otago P, 1998. 112-113.
  • A tribute to the great Māori leaders and warriors of the past, and a call for contemporary Māori to stand tall and take courage.
  • "Tangata Whenua." New Zealand Writing: The NeXt Wave. Ed. Mark Pirie. Dunedin, N.Z.: U of Otago P, 1998. 116-117.
  • "Hardcore." New Zealand Writing: The NeXt Wave. Ed. Mark Pirie. Dunedin, N.Z.: U of Otago P, 1998. 114-115. Rpt. online http://www.blackmailpress.com/DH9.html 13 June 2008.
  • The poet rails against oppression, and identifies with other contemporary and historical freedom fighters in Aotearoa and overseas.
  • "Why I Don’t Cry." Anthology – The First Wellington, N.Z. International Poetry Festival. Oct 16-19, 2003. (HeadworX, 2003). 51. Rpt in JAAM: An Anthology of Writing 1984-2004. Ed. Michael O’Leary & Mark Pirie. 21 (2004): 72-73. Rpt. online http://www.tekupu.com/poems/Why%20I%20Don%27t%20Cry.htm 13 June 2008. Rpt. online http://www.blackmailpress.com/DH9.html 13 June 2008.
  • Te Kupu writes that this poem was "written on September 12, 2001, (the day, Aotearoa time, when the Sept 11 WTC plane bombing was occurring."
  • "Mauri – the Sustenance." Anthology – The First Wellington, N. Z. International Poetry Festival. Oct 16-19, 2003. 53. Rpt. online: http://www.tekupu.com/poems/Mauri-the%20sustenance.htm 13 June 2008.
  • This poem/song printed in English and Māori (titled Te Hiringa) was recorded on Te Kupu’s solo album, Ko Te Matahaki Kupu (The Words which Penetrate), 2000.
  • "Hikoi." Back 2 Basics, 2004. 92.
  • "Te Honenga." Online http://www.blackmailpress.com/DH9.html 13 June 2008.
  • "As the Blind See." Rampike 11/2 (200?): 36. Rpt. online http://www.blackmailpress.com/DH9.html 13 June 2008.
  • "War – the perpetration." Online http://www.blackmailpress.com/DH9.html 13 June 2008.
  • "Te Whakatete." Online http://www.blackmailpress.com/DH9.html 13 June 2008.
  • "Vision – The Conqueror/ Te Kairaupatu." Online publication: http://www.tekupu.com/poems/Vision-the%20conqueror.htm 13 June 2008.
  • "The Maouri Green Sun." Online publication at http://www.tekupu.com/poems/The%20Maouri%20Green%20Sun.htm 13 June 2008.
  • A poem from Katarina, Te Kupu, Luis and Rodrigo written in Medellin, Colombia, at the Xith Festival de Poesia, June 2001.

    • Sound recordings

  • Kupe – Voyaging By The Stars.
  • Soundtrack, incidental and theme music.
  • That’s The Beat/Against the Flow. 1990. No further details.
  • Stormy Weather. 1991.
  • Whakamutungia Tenei Mahi Te Patupatu Tangata. 1992.
  • "Ragga Girl." Once Were Warriors: Soundtrack Album.
  • This song is on the sound track of the motion picture Once Were Warriors, from Alan Duff’s novel.
  • He Kohingawhiti, Kohinga waiata. Te Whanganui a Tara: Te Pou Taki Kōrero, 2001.
  • One sound cassette which is a recording of a Ministry of Education reader for children. Stories are presented from He Kohikohinga 26-28 and songs.

    Non-fiction

  • Buchanan, Kerry. "The Upper Hutt Posse: Music With A Message." Music in New Zealand (Sum 1988/1989): 34-35.
  • Bollinger, Nick. "Performance: In profile: It’s Maori music." Listener 29 Apr. 1989: 55.
  • Buchanan, Kerry. "Rap, Politics And The Posse." Rip It Up 140 (1989): 6.
  • Buchanan, Kerry. "A Māori Warrior Claims New Territory. (Dean Hapeta and New Zealand’s Hip-Hop Subculture." UNESCO Courier July 2000: 32.
  • Brown, Russell. "The angry young man." Planet 12 (1993): 77.
  • Russell, John. [E Tu] Rip It Up 195 (1993): 10.
  • "Entertainment: Whakangahau." Te Maori News 2.14 (1993): 25.
  • Shopland, Alice Refiti. "E Tu." New Zealand Musician 4.4 (1993): 38-39.
  • Ihaka, Jodi and Carol Archie. "Why The Kids Wanna Be Black; Love Each Other." Mana: the Māori News Magazine for all New Zealanders 3 (1993): 10-17.
  • Reid, Graham. "Rap ‘n’ Reo Options." New Zealand Herald 10 Dec. 1993: s.2.
  • Zepke, Stephen. "Dean Hapeta: the medium is the message." Music in New Zealand 23 (1993/1994): 41-42, 61.
  • Gracewood, Gemma. "What’s New Posse cat?" Real Groove 32 (1995): 11.
  • Holmes, David (and others). "Live." Rip It Up 220 (1995): 42-44.
  • Searancke, Russell. "’Posse Funk’ Style." Tama Toa (Aug 1995): 6.
  • Thorne, Richard. "Upper Hutt Posse: What’s In A Name." New Zealand Musician 5.7 (1995): 26-27, 33.
  • Kendrick, Scott. "An interview with Dean Hapeta." JAAM: Just Another Art Movement 10 (1998): 112-119.
  • Chait, Shaun. "Te Kupu: Talkin’ The Talk." New Zealand Musician 8.7 (2000): 18, 20.
  • Russell, John. "Backyard Politics." Real Groove 79 (2000): 14.
  • Kara, Scott. "100% Maori." Rip It Up 274 (2000): 26-27.
  • Rendle, Steve. "Taking The Rap." Evening Post2 Nov. 2000: 19.
  • Cubey, Mark, Michael Tucker and Noel Meek. "Polifusion." Loop 2.4 (2000): 22-27.
  • Interviews a number of Pacific and Māori artists.
  • Cardy, Tom. "Hapeta still doing it like this." Dominion Post 29 Oct. 2004: B10.