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Auckland, April 11, 2025
The 2025 film Tinā, directed by Miki Magasiva, is not just a compelling cinematic experience but also a cultural journey that highlights the deep connection between music, storytelling and the Pacific Islands. At the heart of the film’s musical composition is Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University’s Associate Professor Igelese Ete, whose work as the music arranger helped bring the emotional depth and authenticity of the story to life.
Tinā tells the story of Mareta Percival, a Samoan teacher struggling after the death of her daughter in the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. Mareta takes on a role as a substitute teacher at an elite private school and is surprised to find children in need of guidance, inspiration and love.
The film has had resounding success at the Aotearoa New Zealand box office so far, earning more than $1 million in its opening weekend, the third biggest opening weekend for a New Zealand film.
A longstanding connection
Dr Ete’s collaboration with director Miki Magasiva began three years ago when Mr Magasiva reached out about the film’s music production. Dr Ete had known Mr Magasiva’s younger brother, the late Pua Magasiva, after he invited Pua over to Fiji as a special guest for the Suva High School Choral Festival. The film Tinā became a personal project for Dr Ete, particularly as it was dedicated to Pua, a beloved figure in the Samoan and New Zealand communities.
His role as music director encompassed everything from arranging choral pieces to supervising the overall music production. Much of the film’s soundtrack relied heavily on choir arrangements, a hallmark of Dr Ete’s musical career. The process involved thorough research of traditional Samoan songs, conducting, rehearsing, recording and coordinating the music in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, with Dr Ete leveraging his academic background and resources from Massey.
As a choral arranger, Dr Ete was tasked with creating arrangements that honoured the Pacific roots of the film, incorporating Samoan musical traditions and sounds. This work involved working closely with a variety of Pacific performers, ensuring the soundscape authentically represented the cultural themes of the film.
Education and Mentorship
In addition to his work on Tinā, Dr Ete plays a key role in shaping the next generation of Pacific musicians through his teaching. At Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts in Wellington he is part of the Te Ranga Tai Kura team, where he teaches two papers.
The first is a new Pacific paper which he created: Malaga Sā (The Sacred Journey): Exploring Pacific Creative, Cultural, and Spiritual Navigation through Collaborative Creative and Performative Practices, and the second is Major Project Pre-Production for third-year music practise students.
Beyond the classroom, Dr Ete serves as a mentor to Pacific students through his role as Associate Dean Pacific. He is passionate about creating opportunities for Pacific students in the arts, offering them avenues for creative expression.
One of his dreams is to bring director Miki Magasiva to Massey University for a workshop with film students at the College of Creative Arts. This could further strengthen the connections between Pacific students and the film industry, ensuring their stories and cultural narratives continue to find a voice in mainstream media.
Honouring cultural traditions
Music has always been a central part of Dr Ete’s life. Growing up in a Church where his father was the pastor, his early exposure to music in the Pacific context shaped his understanding of its cultural importance. This foundation in church music and traditional choral arrangements paved the way for his professional career, which includes significant contributions to films like Moana and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
For Dr Ete, the music in Tinā was not just about crafting melodies; it was about creating an emotional connection with the audience. Through choral work, the film celebrates the Pacific Islands’ rich cultural heritage and the role that music plays in storytelling. The lead character in Tinā is a choir teacher, which made Dr Ete’s experience particularly fitting, as he understands firsthand the power of music to inspire, teach and unite people.
Future Projects
Dr Ete hopes that his work on Tinā will lead to further collaborations with Miki Magasiva and other Pacific filmmakers. The film’s premiere in Auckland, followed by those in Wellington, Samoa and Fiji, provided him with the opportunity to pay tribute to Pua Magasiva and engage with various communities. These events were a testament to the cross-community nature of the project, with Pacific peoples from all walks of life coming together to celebrate the film and its music.
He will also be presenting one of his own original productions, Malaga – The Journey, in June and later in the year, Naatapuitea – The Sacred Star.
Looking ahead, Dr Ete’s future plans include continued involvement in the New Zealand Choral Federation’s activities and serving his community. He is also committed to further projects that bring together Pacific peoples and their stories, both through education and music. He believes these initiatives are essential for creating greater awareness of Pacific cultures and fostering a deeper understanding of their contributions to New Zealand’s cultural identity.
