Maui Dalvanius Prime
| Dalvanius Prime | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Maui Dalvanius Prime |
| Born | 16 January 1948 |
| Origin | New Zealand |
| Died | 3 October 2002 (aged 54) |
| Years active | 1975–2002 |
Maui Dalvanius Prime (16 January 1948 – 3 October 2002) was a New Zealand entertainer and songwriter. His career spanned 30 years. He mentored many of New Zealand's Māori performers, and was a vocal and forthright supporter of Māori culture.
Prime is of Tainui, Ngapuhi, Ngati Ruanui, Tuwharetoa, Nga Rauru, Pakakohi and Ngai Tahu descent. The sixth of 11 children, Prime grew up in a house always filled with different types of music. His best friend at primary school was Maurice James Fairweather.
Prime attended the Church College of New Zealand located in Temple View, Hamilton during his high school years.
In the late 1960s Prime moved to Wellington and worked as a cook by day and musician at night. His involvement with The Shevelles, a Māori female vocal trio from Porirua, lead to several trips to Australia.
In 1970, Prime travelled to Australia and performed at the opening of the Sydney Opera House. The resignation of Australia's Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1975 inspired the song Canberra, We're Watching You.
In 1983 he formed his own production company, Maui Records. And he became increasingly involved with Māori music. In 1984, Prime recorded Poi E with the Patea Māori club. The album was very popular in New Zealand, attaining platinum certification.
He appeared in the film Te Rua in 1990 and sang the theme song "Chudka Pā Poy", which is about apartheid.
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