Rim D. Paul


Among the performers with the early Māori showbands, several stepped out to enjoy successful solo careers. In Aotearoa, Prince Tui Teka and Eddie Low became mainstream entertainment identities, thanks to constant touring and TV appearances. Another was Rim D Paul, who went solo in Australia after stints in The Māori Hi-Quins and The Quin Tikis. He became a star in Sydney clubs and on the Gold Coast of Queensland, and through work on TV shows such as Australian Bandstand. After many years he returned to Aoteoroa in 1990, and established the National Māori Choir, nurturing singers for the future.

Blessed with a big, velvety, soulful voice, Rimini Dennis Paul (Te Arawa) was the son of Tai Paul, the legendary leader of 1950s Rotorua dance band Tai Paul and the Pōhutu Boys. A member of the Māori Battalion, Tai Paul was blinded in Egypt during World War II, but afterwards his band became the leading musical attraction in the Bay of Plenty area, especially for dances at the Tamatekapua meeting house at Ōhinemutu, on the edge of Lake Rotorua, just west of the city. In the 1950s, the dances at the “Tama” were the hot ticket in Rotorua nightlife.

Rim D. Paul
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at Te Papa
Rim D Paul - Runaway title song
Rim D. Paul and the Kini Quartet, 1964
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Wez Taiaroa, Gary Wahrlich, Rim D. Paul, Anzac Te Oka, Tab Paenga, Sam Mateparae at the Rex Hotel, Kings Cross, Sydney, 1964
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The No. 2 Māori Hi-Five showband at Surfers Paradise. From left, Rim D Paul (Rotorua), Thomas Kini (Gisborne), Tab Paenga (Gisborne), Jimmy Rivers (Waikato), Mathew Kemp (North Auckland), and Gary Wahrlich (Invercargill).
Photo credit: Gisborne Photo News
Rim D Paul - Little Green Apples
Rim D. Paul
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Miss New Zealand line-up and Joe Brown
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Quin Tikis in 1968
Quin Tikis: Anzac Te Oka, Rim D. Paul, Sam Mateparae (older brother of Sir Jerry Mateparae, Governor-General of New Zealand from 2011 to 2016)
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Rim D. Paul - You Can Have Her
Rim D. Paul
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Rim D. Paul's 2015 album Waiata, Wairua, Waiora, recorded by Doug Jane and Wiremu Karaitiana (Billy Kristian) 
Rim D. Paul - City Girl
When the Haka Became Boogie: the Māori Showbands
Miss NZ Tour 1965. From top left: Wez Taiaroa, Lou Clauson, Ian Saxon, Simon Mehana. Middle row: John Hore, Howard Morrison, Miss NZ 1965 Gay Phelps, Keri Northover. Front: Gary Wahrlich, Rim D. Paul. 
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Rim D Paul profile, Te Waka Toi Awards 2019
Hi Quins at Rex Hotel, Kings Cross. Left to right: Kawana Waitere, Tab Paenga, Thomas Kini, Lynn Rogers, Eddie Nuku, Rim D. Paul, Gary Wahrlich
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Rim D. Paul - Green Green Grass
Rim D. Paul - I'm Coming Home
Quin Tikis: Sam Mateparae, Gary Wahrlich and Fred Whitaker with Howard Morrison
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Quin Tikis in Don't Let It Get You (1966)
The Quin Tikis (L- R): Sam Matepaere, Gary Wahrlich, Weasel Tairoa, Keri Summers, John Ferguson, Rim D Paul, Freddy Summers. 
Hi Quins in Portugal, 1963
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Quin Tikis, Sundowner Hotel, Sydney, 1964. From left: Rim D. Paul, Sam Mateparae, Weasel Taiaroa, Anzac Te Oka, Dora Amohau on drums
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The July 2015 Quin Tikis compilation reached No.1 on the album charts
Miss NZ Tour 1965. From top left: Fred Whitaker, Sam Mateparae, Wez Taiaroa, Lou Clauson, Ian Saxon, Simon Mehana, Peter Posa. Middle: John Hore, Howard Morrison, Miss NZ 1965 Gay Phelps, Keri Northover. Front: Gary Wahrlich, Rim D. Paul.
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Labels:

Philips


Zodiac


Joe Brown

Trivia:

Two other members of the Teenage Rebels – Rim D Paul’s group at Te Aute College – were Tim Rangiaho, who could sing, and dance, like Elvis Presley, and James Waerea, who in 1964 hosted the pioneering pop TV show In the Groove.

Sam Mateparae was the older brother of Sir Jerry Mateparae, the Governor-General of New Zealand between 2011 and 2016.

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