Pacific Underground

aka Pacific Underground Music Productions, P.U.M.P.

Profile

Peter McLennan

25 Jun 2015

Pacific Underground formed in late 1992 in Christchurch, as a performing arts collective aimed at telling stories about Polynesians living in New Zealand.

Representing Polynesian culture in a white bread city like Christchurch must have been challenging, but their plays, concerts and workshops proved a magnet for a wealth of exciting young talent in that city, drawing in the likes of Beats N Pieces (featuring a Malo Luafutu, aka Scribe), Dallas Tamaira (Fat Freddy's Drop) and Sheelahroc (featuring Ladi6, Tyra Hammond, later of Opensouls, and Sarah Tamaira, Dallas’s sister).

Warming up before the Romeo and Tusi show in Frank Kitts Park, Wellington, 1999: Dallas Tamaira, Shane Asi, Barbara Carpenter and Ave Robertson

Pos Mavaega at the April 2011 Wanaka Festival Of Colours playing his father's steel guitar. His father's name can be seen on the sticker.

Photo credit: Photo by Simon Darby

The closing of Fresh Off The Boat, University Free Theatre, Christchurch 1993: Oscar Kightley, Mishelle Muagututi'a, Michael Anthony Hodgson, Tanya Muagututi'a, Erolia Ifopo and Losa Tamati supporting Tanya

Pos Mavaega with Pacific Underground, Ponérihouen, New Caledonia, 2013

Pacific Underground presents Island Summer as a large scale show at the Applaud Christchurch Arts Festival live at Isaac Theatre Royal (2005)

Ray Columbus, Pos Mavaega (Pacific Underground) and Dalvanius Prime at the 2001 APRA Silver Scroll awards

Photo credit: Pos Mavaega collection

Pacific Underground - Meet Me at the Dog House

Tagata Pasifika: Pacific Underground Pacific Music Awards 2011 Full Performance

Sara-Lia Tamati, Dallas Tamaira and Joy Vaele on the 1996 Romeo and Tusi theatre in education tour

Photo credit: Photo by Mishelle Muagututi'a

Andrew Sione at the Wanaka Festival of Colours, 2011

Photo credit: Photo by Simon Darby

Walter Lagatule

Island Summer (2010) promotional video

PASIFIKANA SOUNDZ, a collaboration project between Kalaga'la, 'Koile, Tyssia and Pacific Underground culminating in a ten day tour in New Caledonia (2013)

Chris Searle at the April 2011 Wanaka Festival of Colour

Photo credit: Photo by Simon Darby

Members of 'Koile, Pacific Underground and Kalaga'la singing 'Koile's version of 'Tagi Hina' on Radio Djiido, the local Kanaky radio station in Noumea, New Caledonia (2013)

Pacific Underground live at Cathedral Square, Christchurch

The 1999 Pacific Underground album Landmark. Designed by Jacob Liuamanuvae, It featured a young Scribe on two tracks

Pacific Underground at The Festival of Colour, Lake Wanaka, 2011: Tanya Muagututi'a, Andrew Sione Dru Base, Pos Mavaega, Chris Searle, Hemi-quaver Lesatele and Seta Timo

Pos Mavaega and Nathan Chalmers during the recording the 1999 Landmark collection

Pacific Underground live at Cathedral Square, Christchurch

Pacific Underground - Dawn Raids play trailer (2022)

Pacific Underground honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pacific Music Awards (2016)

“We’re ready to go for another 30 years!” - Pacific Underground reunites to celebrate milestone on TP+ (2025)

Michael Banks, Chris Searle and Pos Mavaega, 1997, as part of the Romeo and Tusi band

10 year anniversary of Christchurch Pacific Arts and Culture Festival by Pacific Underground (2010)

Angels play by Pacific Underground on Tagata Pasifika TVNZ

Pacific Underground to receive 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award

RNZ: Pacific Underground goes symphonic (2025)

RNZ Mixtape: Pos Mavaega on 30 years of Pacific Underground (2024)

Pacific Underground were based at the Arts Centre in Christchurch prior to the recent earthquakes.

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Pacific Underground

aka Pacific Underground Music Productions, P.U.M.P.