Guitarist writes School song
STEPHEN FORBES
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He's shared stages with some of the biggest name's in rock.
So Riqi Harawira was quick to get out his guitar when he heard Pomaria Primary needed a new school song.
"My kids go there and I live just over the road," he says.
"I wanted to write something that wasn’t operatic or too standard like a
national anthem," Riqi says.
" I wanted something the kids would enjoy singing."
Riqi introduced himself to music teacher Rose Alexander and the pair wrote Children of Pomaria.
The school’s 70-strong choir performed the song for the first time this week after rehearsing it for the last few weeks.
Mrs Alexander says the tune is a welcome addition to the school’s repertoire.
"The kids love it," she says.
Riqi played guitar for Auckland-based rock group Dead Flowers from 1992 to 1995.
The band played as a support act to Guns N’ Roses in front of about 50,000 people at Mt Smart Stadium in 1993.
It was also the opening act for Pearl Jam at the Supertop in 1995.
Riqi left the band that same year and played brief stints with Boh Runga’s band Stellar and kiwi hip hop pioneers Dam Native.
He then had an eight year hiatus from the music industry, became a father and reassessed his life.
Riqi eventually found himself picking up where he left off.
He’s now got a weekly gig at Plato’s Greek Tavern in Ponsonby and is set to release a new single under his own name in the next couple of months.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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