The Tairāwhiti Music Survey – Te Rangahou Puoro o te Tairāwhiti, a community research project, is set to unearth what local musicians and audiences want from the music scene in the Gisborne area.

The survey idea was injected with life in 2019 after a very positive hui to discuss a music strategy for Tairāwhiti. The community research project is supported by Manatū Taonga | the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, aiming to map the local musical landscape.

Three phases of the Tairāwhiti Music Survey project:

1. Phase One is the launch of an online ‘What Does Music Mean To You?’ survey and gathering data from local musicians and audience members.
2. Phase Two is an analysis of that data.
3. Phase Three is taking steps in relation to what the data reveals.

The grassroots research project is a first, with no template for it.

“The aim is to have as many people as possible complete the online survey to ensure a far-reaching group of many diverse voices have their say on the future of music in Tairāwhiti,” says organiser Darryl Monteith.

“The whole concept of the funding workshop actually represents exactly what we’re doing here. We have this beautiful music waka, which contributes hugely to our well-being in Tairāwhiti. We just don’t have a means of steering it or know where we, collectively, would like to go yet.

“We’re not aware of anywhere else in NZ successfully mapping their music sector before, so it’s a great opportunity to pilot such a project here.”

The community survey will be available for Tairāwhiti locals online through to the end of April at www.whatmusicsmeanstome.nz.