Mere Boynton

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

Iwi : Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Ngāti Tūhoe 

Te Reo Level : Conversational 

Mere Boynton photo 1Mere Boynton photo 2Mere Boynton photo 3Mere Boynton photo 4Mere Boynton photo 5Mere Boynton photo 6Mere Boynton photo 7Mere Boynton photo 8Mere Boynton photo 9Mere Boynton photo 10Mere Boynton photo 11Mere Boynton photo 12

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

The Untold Tales of Tuteremoana

View: The Untold Tales of Tuteremoana