The Māori Showbands

07/03/2026

06/03/2026

Deeply saddened to hear that our dear matua Rongo Ransfield is nearing the end of his journey.

Rongo has been a treasured part of our Māori showband whānau through his music with The Sheratons, and through the kindness, warmth and aroha he shared with so many of us.

We send our deepest aroha to Rongo, his beloved wife Jennifer and his two daughters Tania and Ell'e. Our thoughts are with you all.

Haere rā e te rangatira. Moe mai rā i te aroha.

21/09/2024

Moe mai rā e te rangatira. You brought so much joy to so many. A voice in a million. Our heart felt condolences go out to his whanau ❤️

02/09/2024

03/07/2024

On 6 July 2015 Frenzy Music/Sony Music re-released the previous 2 albums of The Quin Tikis recorded in 1967 and 1968 along with a couple of earlier single releases in 1963/4 as a compilation CD. The album spent 11 weeks in the Top 40 and went to Number One on the NZ Charts on 13 July 2015. A huge achievement for recordings that were recorded nearly 50 years prior. Has any other NZ artist or group ever achieved this in NZ? As far as we are aware the only international group to achieve this were the Beatles with their album "Abbey Road" which went to number one again in 2019 on the U.K. Charts, on its 50th Anniversary.
Keriana Northover (Summers) was a huge part of that success along with Eddie Low, Sam Mateparae, Weazel Taiaroa, Rim D Paul, Fred Whittaker (Summers) Gary Wahrlich, Rufus Rehu, Kevin Rongonui and Lisa Nuku

29/06/2024

Ka aroha hoki. It is with deep sadness we hear that Rangi Keriana Northover (Keri Summers) of The Quin Tikis has passed away this morning in the USA. A wonderfully talented and beautiful person. We send our deepest sympathy and aroha to her whanau at this time. "Kua haere ia ki tōna moenga roa"

23/06/2024

Does anyone remember The Playdates - Maori Community Centre 1962.
Can someone confirm who the singer is in the first photo as other information states Colin Clarke was the bass player who is in the 2nd photos.
Duskey Nepia, Danny Robinson, Paul Robinson, Colin Clarke, Ian Mckay.

21/06/2024

Does anyone remember the Chubby Checker shows in NZ in 1963? Chubby Checker was looking for a backing band for his NZ tour and was told to check out The Quin Tikis at the Māori Community Centre. He loved them and hired them on the spot.

Let’s do “The Twist”
Back in early 1963, Harry Miller brought Chubby Checker on a short tour of New Zealand. Chubby Checker had released his version of the song the previous year and it shot to the top of the charts.
Did you go to one of his concerts then?

“The Twist” dance was easy to do, which helped make it so popular. It was usually done with a partner, although no touching was involved.
Basically it's a simple twisting of the hips. Some describe it as if you are pretending to stamp out a fallen cigarette or drying your back with a towel.
The dance was so popular that it inspired additional new dances such as the Mashed Potato, the Swim, and the Funky Chicken.

17/06/2024

The Quin Tikis, Howard Morrison Quartet and The Vogue Trio performing at Ngāruawāhia Arts Festival (1963)

(Copyright of photos held by Ans Westra)