Tama Renata’s memorable playing on Murray Grindlay and Murray McNabb's theme music for Once Were Warriors embedded itself in the New Zealand psyche as much as the line “cook me some eggs”, or the ominous buzzing sounds of the pūrerehua. In this promo clip, the Herbs guitarist takes centre stage as he shreds on a custom stratocaster cast in traditional wood whakairo (carving). The shots of Renata playing are interspersed with iconic scenes from the movie, which launched its takeover of New Zealand cinemas in mid 1994, before screening around the globe. Tama Renata passed away on 4 November 2018.
One of those guitarists who can pin an audience to the wall with his playing.– Colin Hogg on Tama Renata, in The Auckland Star, mid 1980s
Tangata Records
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