{{Short description|New Zealand singer, actress, dancer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Mere Boynton | image = | caption = | birth_name = Mere Tokorahi Boynton | birth_date = 1966 | birth_place = Puha | occupation = singer, actor, arts producer | years_active = 1980s–present | notable_works = {{hlist|''Once Were Warriors''|''The Piano''|''The Dead Lands''}} Director Ngā Toi Māori / programmer - Tawhiri | awards = }}
'''Mere Tokorahi Boynton''' is a New Zealand singer, producer and actor. As an actor she is known for her role as Mavis in the film ''Once Were Warriors''. Boynton was Director Ngā Toi Māori for the Aotearoa Festival.
== Early life and education == Boynton affiliates to the Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Ngāti Oneone and Ngāi Tūhoe iwi. She grew up in Te Tairāwhiti,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Mere Boynton Appointed as Director Ngā Toi Māori for Tāwhiri|url=https://www.festival.nz/about/work-with-us/mere-boynton-appointed-as-director-ng%C4%81-toi-m%C4%81ori-for-t%C4%81whiri/|access-date=2021-08-20|website=New Zealand Festival of the Arts|language=en|archive-date=17 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817234629/https://www.festival.nz/about/work-with-us/mere-boynton-appointed-as-director-ng%C4%81-toi-m%C4%81ori-for-t%C4%81whiri/|url-status=live}}</ref> she was born in Puha in 1966, and went to Whatatutu Primary School and Te Karaka Primary School and then on to Waikohu College.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Mere Boynton |url=https://www.komako.org.nz/person/81 |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=Komako}}</ref>
Boynton trained in singing at the Conservatorium of Music, Wellington Polytechnic and Māori Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Catherall |first=Sarah |date=2022-03-14 |title=Actor, singer and producer Mere Boynton is growing her impressive CV |url=https://womanmagazine.co.nz/actor-singer-and-producer-mere-boynton-is-growing-her-impressive-cv/ |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=WOMAN |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
== Performance work == Boynton has had a range of performing roles as a singer and actor. Boynton played Mavis in the film ''Once Were Warriors''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Mere Boynton |url=https://www.nzso.co.nz/concerts-and-tickets/featured-artists/mere-boynton/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817234404/https://www.nzso.co.nz/concerts-and-tickets/featured-artists/mere-boynton/ |archive-date=17 August 2021 |access-date=2021-08-20 |website=www.nzso.co.nz |language=en}}</ref> In 2001 Mere performed in concerts as a member of the New Zealand Prime Minister's cultural entourage to South America.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Mere Boynton |url=https://sounz.org.nz/contributors/41 |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=SOUNZ}}</ref> In Tanemahuta Gray's 2006 stage production ''Maui One Man Against the Gods Boynton'' was the lead role, Taranga.<ref name=":5" />
Boynton sang Gareth Farr's ''Te Papa'', for the opening of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. She toured New Zealand in Michael Parmenter's dance opera ''Jerusalem'' and was in a te reo Māori version of ''The'' ''Merchant of Venice'', ''Te Tangata Whairawa o Weneti''.<ref name=":0" />
In 2019, Boynton appeared in the premiere of Witi Ihimaera's show ''Witi's Wahine'' at the Tairawhiti Arts Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-09-11|title=Bookmarks: Mere Boynton – once a warrior|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018712820/bookmarks-mere-boynton-once-a-warrior|access-date=2021-08-20|website=RNZ |language=en-nz|archive-date=20 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820104411/https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018712820/bookmarks-mere-boynton-once-a-warrior|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2021, Boynton was a soloist for the premiere of ''Matariki'', composed by Gareth Farr and for which Boynton and Ariana Tikao wrote the words.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2021-06-25|title=Matariki: NZSO, Te Papa to host special celebrations|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/125550692/matariki-nzso-te-papa-to-host-special-celebrations|access-date=2021-08-20|website=Stuff|language=en|archive-date=20 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820234804/https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/125550692/matariki-nzso-te-papa-to-host-special-celebrations|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Matariki'' was performed by the NZSO in Auckland and Wellington, and was conducted by Gemma New.<ref name=":2" />
=== Composer === Boynton and Jonathan Besser have composed several pieces of music together including ''A Soft Peace,'' for voice and chamber ensemble, ''Hau (reimagined),'' for voice and glass, and ''I Sleep but My Heart Waketh,'' for voice and chamber ensemble.<ref name=":5" />
== Arts producing == Boynton has been in the role of community development at the Wellington City Council, visitor developer at Te Papa, the national museum of New Zealand, and programme manager at Taki Rua Theatre.<ref name=":3" />
Boynton was appointed as Director Ngā Toi Māori for the New Zealand events organisation Tāwhiri in September 2020. Tāwhiri organises events in Wellington including the biennial New Zealand Festival of the Arts, Wellington Jazz Festival and the Lexus Song Quest.<ref name=":1" /> Boynton's appointment heralded a change for the arts festival to have half the content be Māori or indigenous.<ref name=":4" />
Boynton was part of the team that programmed the new Wellington Māori language festival, Te Hui Ahurei Reo Māori o Te Whanganui a Tara. The inaugural festival was held in 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Maori Language petition being presented to Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Māpuna for Saturday 13 August 2022 Māpuna |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mapuna/20220813 |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Gideon |date=2022-08-19 |title=Whanganui a Tara to celebrate te reo Maori |url=https://waateanews.com/2022/08/19/whanganui-a-tara-to-celebrate-te-reo-maori/ |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=Waatea News: Māori Radio Station |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Boynton left Tāwhiri in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tāwhiri Festivals and Experiences on LinkedIn: April 2024 will mark the end of our Director Ngā Toi Māori Mere Boynton's… |url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tawhiri-festivals-and-experiences_april-2024-will-mark-the-end-of-our-director-activity-7130378613404647424-wspR |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=www.linkedin.com |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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== External links == * [https://sounz.org.nz/contributors/41 SOUNZ links to audio of Mere Boynton's composition]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boynton, Mere}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century New Zealand women singers Category:New Zealand actors Category:Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki people Category:Ngāi Tūhoe people Category:Ngāti Porou people Category:New Zealand dancers Category:New Zealand Māori women singers Category:Victoria University of Wellington alumni Category:1966 births