Our Vision
Enriching lives and communities through music and the arts
Our Values
Diversity, Community, Creativity, Wellbeing
Our Name
Our Trust’s name was inspired by a beautiful waiata by the late Hirini Melbourne, an important Māori musician –
E Tū Kahikatea – Stand Like the Kahikatea Tree.
We are grateful to Hirini Melbourne’s family for a supportive message for our Trust’s kaupapa.
The kahikatea, like many native trees in Aotearoa NZ, has no tap root and instead the roots of neighbouring trees intertwine and support one another during stormy times – a metaphor for the community participation we value. Kahikatea is our tallest native tree – our Trust aims to stand tall in the community.
Alison Talmage, a founding Trustee and Registered Music Therapist, also had many journeys along Kahikatea Flats Road to visit friends May (Registered Music Therapist) and Evan Clulee – for conversations that watered the seed that became this kahikatea.
Our Story
The Trust (CC56392) was established in 2018, to coordinate the Sing Up Rodney community music therapy singing groups and to initiate new projects.
Founding Chair, Lady Rhyl Jansen, had a prior connection with Alison through the CeleBRation Choir at the University of Auckland’s Centre for Brain Research. When Sing Up Rodney featured in Hibiscus Matters (15/02/2017, p.15), Rhyl responded to a call for Trustees and became the founding Chair. Chris Wargent, Judith Gust and Susie Kasza completed the inaugural Trust Board, and were later joined by David Talmage. After several postponements, particularly due to the pandemic, the Trust was formally launched on February 27th, 2021.
Why Music and the Arts?
Music therapy, community music and engagement in the arts provide valuable opportunities to enrich lives and communities, by enhancing wellbeing, social connectedness, and recovery & rehabilitation. Read more on our Links page.
Our Trustees
(Treasurer & RMTh)
from April 1st 2021)
Contact Us
Online contact form
Email the Trust
Facebook
Sing Up Rodney Groups or email
Ph: 027 464 2465
Kahikatea Music Therapy & Community Arts Trust 