Iwi : Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Ngāti Tūhoe
Te Reo Level : Conversational

Mere Boynton
Fluent in Te Reo Maori and able to preform Karanga and Kapahaka, she sings regularly with Reggae Kaupapa Maori Band 'Aortearoa'
- Locations
- Wellington
- Ethnicity
- Māori
- Age Range
- 53 - 63
- Height
- 171cm / 5ft 7in
- Hips
- 104cm / 41in
Bio
Mere Boynton is a multitalented performance artist, singer, actor, and MC. With formal training in voice, she has crafted a distinctive style that beautifully blends her classical background with her Māori heritage.
As an actor, Mere is well known for her portrayal of Mavis in Once Were Warriors. She has also appeared in several films and television series, including The Piano, Deadlands, Hinekura (a short film in te reo Māori), Colonial Combat (a television series in te reo Māori), and The Untold Tales of Tūteremoana, also in te reo Māori. More recently, she starred in the acclaimed theatrical work Witi’s Wāhine, written and directed by Nancy Brunning for the Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival.
Mere's singing engagements have been equally memorable. She has performed for New Zealand’s Te Papa and sung in the film Te Tangata Whairawa o Weneti (The Māori Merchant of Venice). Notably, she played the lead role of Taranga in Maui: One Man Against the Gods (2006) and performed with the avant-garde theatre company MAU at the Vienna Mozart Festival in Requiem (2006), commissioned by Artistic Director Peter Sellars for the New Crowned Hope Festival, celebrating the 250th anniversary of Mozart. Requiem was also presented in Brussels, Auckland, London, and New York.
Other career highlights, both locally and internationally, include collaborations with NZIAF Opera, the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, the Auckland Arts Festival, and the NZ Symphony Orchestra.
Mere released her first CD, Waikohu, in 2005, followed by Aroha/Ahava in 2015.
Film
Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Deadlands | Turikatuku | GCF/Fightertown, dir: Toa Fraser | Feature Film |
2002 | Aroha - Te Aomahana | Lead | Dir. Puhi Rangiaho | Feature Film |
2001 | Te Tangata Whairawa o Weneti (The Merchant of Venice) | Singer | He Taonga Films, dir: Don Selwyn | Feature Film |
1997 | Nga Wahine | (Supporting Role) | Montana Series, Dir. Riwia Brown | Feature Film |
1995 | Once Were Warriors | Mavis (Supporting Role) | Communicado Productions, Dir. Lee Tamahori | Feature Film |
1993 | The Piano | Chief Nihe's Daughter | Dir. Jane Campion | Feature Film |
1992 | Marriage | Supporting Role | Dir. Gaylene Preston | Feature Film |
Television
Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Untold Tales - Whiro | Niwa | Sweatshop Productions | Drama |
2020 | Colonial Combat | Mawera | Awa Films, dir: Sunny Arahanga | Drama |
2011 | Rage | Diana | Tom Scott Productions, dir: Danny Mulheron | Drama |
2004 | Te Ao Mahana | Lily Kahaka | Aroha Films Ltd, dir: Puhi Rangiaho | Drama |
1990 | William Colenso - At the Risk of Our Lives | Lead | Ninox Films | Drama |
Theatre
Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Ngā Hihi o Matariki - | Collaborate & Compose | New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, composed by Gareth Farr and taonga puoro | |
2013-2014 | Stones In Her Mouth - Commemoration of the First World War Centennary WW100 | Music & Theatre | MAU Theatre Company - Europe, America, Canada, Australia & NZ | |
2013-2014 | I Am - Commemoration of the First World War Centennary WW100 | Music & Theatre | MAU Theatre Company- Europe, America, Canada, Australia & NZ | |
2013 | Songs and Dances of Desire | Music & Theatre | Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra/Auckland Arts Festival Tokyo, Japan | |
2008 | The Trail of the Cannibal Dogs | Music & Theatre | composed by Matthew Suttor | |
2008 | Ex Stasis | Music & Theatre | composed by Gareth Farr | |
2008 | Three Cornered Hat | Music & Theatre | Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra | |
2006-2008 | Requiem | Music & Theatre | MAU Productions, Lemi Panifasio | |
2006 | Requiem | Music & Theatre | MAU Theatre Company/ Vienna Mozart Festival | |
2006 | Requiem - Tour Celebrating 250th Anniversary of Mozart | Music & Theatre | MAU Theatre Company, New Crowned Hope Festival - Brussels, Auckland, Longon & New Yorrk - dir: Peter Sellars | |
2006 | Maui One Man Against the Gods | Taranga | Tanemahuta Gray | |
2005 | Maui Once Man Against the Gods | Taranga (Lead Role) | Tanemahuta Gray | |
1999 | Jerusalem - Singing & Touring Nationwide | Music & Theatre | composed by Michael Parmenter | |
1997 | Te Papa | Music & Theatre | Te Papa Tongarewa: Museum of New Zealand, Composed by Garth Farr | |
1995 | Takitoru | Music & Theatre | Downstage Theatre | |
1993 | Summa Fulla Kala | Music & Theatre | Taki Rua | |
1990 | Women off the Planet | Music & Theatre | Taki Rua | |
1990 | Te Hara | Music & Theatre | The Depot, Dir. Anne Keating | |
1988 | Te Mahi Whakangahau | Music & Theatre | The Depot, Dir. Jim Moriarty | |
1987 | Te Hara | Music & Theatre | John Broughton, Taki Rua Theatre |
Short Film
Year | Production | Role | Company / Director | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Hinekura | Marama | Awa Films, dir: Becs Arahanga | Short Film |
2007 | Ruki's Voice | Ruki | Fala Media, dir: Whetu Fala | Short Film |
Training
Year | Description | Institution / Presenter | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1992-1993 | Diploma in Music - Majoring in Voice (Classical Voice Training) | Wellington Polytechnic |
Languages
Advanced: Te Reo Māori
Accents
Intermediate: Māori | New Zealand
Singing Range
Soprano
Singing Styles
Advanced: Opera
Dance
Advanced: Māori | Traditional