This October, the Tauranga Arts Festival will echo with laughter, music, and collective spirit as two community-focused shows –Battle Chorus and Waiata Mai – take centre stage, both led by local artist and musical powerhouse Jason Te Mete.
Te Mete, who was born and raised in Tauranga, is no stranger to the local arts scene and is thrilled to be returning with two very different – but equally uplifting – musical events.
Back by popular demand, Battle Chorus returns with a brand-new twist on the crowd-favourite sing-off experience. The show invites the audience to become the stars, forming two choirs led by Jason Te Mete and fellow performer Rutene Spooner.
Battle Chorus
“We performed in the last Tauranga Arts Festival, and I’m bringing back Battle Chorus, but in a brand-new version — which is exciting,” said Te Mete.“That show is a real fun, community-focused singalong, where the audience comes and gets to learn a bunch of choruses with either me or Rutene. We split the audience in half and then we have 25 minutes of fun learning the songs and come back together for a big sing-off. It’s hugely, stupidly fun!”
This year’s theme? Greatest Hits of All Time, Part Two – a follow-up to last year’s smash hit version. Audiences can expect another round of iconic anthems, high energy, and light-hearted rivalry.
“This is the first time we’ll be doing it in the Carrus Crystal Palace, which will be a whole other kind of experience. We’ll be raising the roof in that tent!”
With capacity for about 300 people, the palace on Tauranga’s waterfront will promise an electric atmosphere for this unique musical battle at 7.30pm on October 25.
Waiata Mai is a free community singalong event on the Tauranga waterfront on November 2. Photo / Supplied.
Waiata Mai (sidehead)
While Battle Chorus thrives on friendly competition, Waiata Mai is all about unity. This free community singalong will bring together a collective choir – led by Te Mete, the Tuatara Collective and featuring special guest soloists – for an hour-long celebration of song and culture.
“We’ve pulled together a bunch of people, and we’ll perform a set of songs with lyrics on a big screen so the audience can sing along too. Most of the waiata (songs) are in te reo Māori, giving people the opportunity to follow the words and join in.”
Te Mete’s roots run deep in Tauranga. Trained here as a classical pianist, his early involvement in music and theatre launched a career that’s spanned Auckland, Wellington and beyond. After a serious accident brought him back home in 2021, Te Mete found himself reconnecting with the local arts scene – and helping to shape its future.
“Coming home gave me the chance to see where there were gaps I could help fill, without stepping on anyone’s toes,” he said. “It’s really rewarding to be creating mahi here.”
Through his arts organisation Tuatara Collective, Te Mete and his team run performing arts wānanga for rangatahi (youth), working with kura like Te Wharekura o Mauao, Mount Maunganui College, and Te Kura o Matapihi.
“We’ve found a lot of young people who are keen to come and hang out, try some things, make some art, and learn about performance. It’s great.”
From timeless favourites like Poi E and Tū Tira Mai Ngā Iwi to soulful harmonies led by local talent, the Tauranga Arts Festival free closing event Waiata Mai is 4pm on Sunday, November 2, at the northern waterfront reserve. All welcome.