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8 MARLBOROUGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS AWARDS

Marlborough Convention Centre

1. John Murphy, Jessie Cowan, Hannah and Brendon Price

2. Sherry Herrick and Mel Homer 3. Victoria Black, Chris Black, Amy Norton and Nikki Page 4. Melissa Bayne and Amanda Coster 5. Tony Hope and Anna Stretton 6. Julien Stevens and Angela Bright 7. Kate and Gareth Jones

8. Rosemary Wells, Lucas Lormans and

Tracey Adams 9. Fiona Fenwick, Jeff Fulton, Natalie Christensen 10. Julie Cadwallender, Nicky and Aaron Marshall and Linda and Christian Fletcher-Firks

SUMMA MACDONALD/SARAH BOARD

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Fly My Pretties is a unique collective; only coming together to perform at special occasions.

FRANCES WILSONA CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY

Fly My Pretties to headline Tuia 250 commemorations in Picton.

Words: Kat Duggan

Organisers of Tuia 250 commemorations in Picton wanted a headline act to represent the wider community, and that is what they have got.

Fly My Pretties will head the lineup of entertainers to take the stage during commemorations at the Picton Foreshore on November 23.

Tōtaranui 250 Trust general manager Chrissy Powlesland says they identified the supergroup as being an ideal choice earlier this year. “We definitely set our sights on Fly My Pretties, because there is such a cross section of people within that collaboration,” she says. Based in Wellington, Fly My Pretties is an ever changing collective of some of New Zealand’s most talented musicians, both fresh and established.

The group was formed in 2004 and has a focus on sharing their talents, stories and ideas to create original music. Central to the Tuia 250 events is a dual heritage flotilla which celebrates the extraordinary feats of navigation and voyaging by Māori, Polynesian and Europeans. Fly My Pretties has taken that focus on board, Chrissy says. “I think that they will certainly be performing within the context of our kaupapa [theme] around dual heritage and a shared future; they have really taken that on board and will be a real part of the commemorations rather than an add-on to it.”

Black Seeds frontman and Fly My Pretties co-founder Barnaby Weir will be joined by Anna Coddington, A Girl Named Mo, Hollie Smith, LA Mitchell, Mel Parsons, Ria Hall, Aaaron Stewart, Age Pryor, Iraia Whakamoe, James Coyle, Jarney Murphy, Laughton Kora, Nigel Patterson and Ryan Prebble at the Picton event this month.

The performance is to be a special one for the collective, he says. “We’re really excited to play [at the event]. “For us it is a special gig, it’s not an ordinary gig. The commemorations are really important to the nation and it’s really special to be asked to play,” Barnaby says. As with the wider New Zealand community, Fly My Pretties is made up of a collective of people from very diverse backgrounds. “We are a multicultural cast and we all come from different backgrounds and have different perspectives,” Barnby says. “There’s a great parallel there in that [the collective] is like a mini version of a community; we are a musical community that only comes together for special occasions.”

Barnaby views Tuia 250 commemorations as an opportunity to better understand the history of New Zealand and its people for the benefit of the future.

“Being part of commemorations and understanding our past, and facing up to the truths of that and listening to different perspectives…it’s really important for moving forward as a nation; Māori, Pākehā and everyone else who lives in Aotearoa. “[Lets] plan our future together, facing some of these issues or the different stories we have been told, right or wrong, good, bad and ugly; lets face it,” he says. As well as contributing to the narrative of

Fly My Pretties’ Barnaby Weir.

Being part of commemorations and understanding our past, and facing up to the truths of that and listening to different perspectives…it’s really important for moving forward as a nation.

Barnaby Weir

the day, Barnaby says the collective will first and foremost be there to entertain.

“We’re going to put all our efforts into playing the best set we can play; and being ourselves,” he says. Fly My Pretties will be preceded on stage by H4lf Cāst, a contemporary Kiwi reggae band, as well as Rabbit Hōle, an upbeat dub/funk/soul band from Nelson.

Adding to the musical mix of the day will be kapa haka, jazz band and Vanuatunan band performances, while Interislander has sponsored a light show, Chrissy says. “That is going to be a mesmerizing 3D light installation on the war memorial at the foreshore,” she says. The light show will portray the story of Polynesian explorer Kupe, as well as that of Captain Cook. Footage from a pōwhiri welcoming the Tuia 250 flotilla at Ship Cove on November 21 will be shown on the stage throughout Saturday’s entertainment lineup. During the day on both Saturday November 23, and Sunday November 24, the flotilla of vessels, which includes two waka hourua (doublehulled canoes), the HMB Endeavour replica and the Spirit of New Zealand, will be open for the public to explore. A food and cultural market, Kete Kai Street Market, will be running in the Picton High Street on Saturday November 23 from 3pm until 8pm. “There’s going to be something for everyone,” Chrissy says. “[The public] will hopefully all walk away with a greater sense of our history … it’s definitely a time of remembrance on the past and looking forward to a shared future.”

Marlborough

15th NOVEMBER