The award-winning Modern Māori Quartet (MMQ) are a suave contemporary Māori showband in the vein of forebears such as the Hi-Marks, Māori Volcanics Showband, Māori Hi-Five, Quin Tikis and The Howard Morrison Quartet.

Accomplished actors/musicians James Tito, Maaka Pohatu, Matariki Whatarau and Francis Kora hail from different corners of Aotearoa to perform as the core members of MMQ, with Matu Ngaropo as Music Dramaturg/Director.

MMQ brings the concept of a Māori Ratpack into the present with a contemporary twist, weaving their acting and musical abilities together to tell stories, fusing hearty and humorous Māori storytelling with the Western tradition of showband entertainment.

MMQ’s work highlights New Zealand’s musical past and present through a repertoire that blends old school charm with modern pizzazz, featuring unique spins on Māori waiata, showband hits and pop music, all infused with the multi-talented Māori foursome’s irresistible charisma, sublime harmonies and universal humour.

MMQ aspires to be one of Aotearoa’s global cultural ambassadors, representing the revival of a proud heritage of world-class Māori showband entertainment, with relevance and appeal to today’s contemporary markets; at the core of it all – hearty Māori entertainment.

Recent international touring and performance highlights include Salisbury International Arts Festival, St John’s Smith Square (London), Komedia (Brighton), Norwegian Church Arts Centre (Cardiff), Sharq Taronalari International Music Festival (Samarkand, Uzbekistan), Festival of Voices (Hobart), Hawaii Theatre Center (Honolulu), Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Kahilu Theatre (Hawaii Island), SingJazz Club (Singapore), Hard Rock Café (Sentosa Island, Singapore), PJ Live Arts Theatre (Selangor, Malaysia), Empire Cinema (Rarotonga), TEDxAuckland, New Zealand Festival (Wellington), Māorilands Film Festival (Ōtaki) and various New Zealand arts festivals.