The Quin Tikis


The Quin Tikis were one of the most well-known and well-travelled of the 1960s Māori showbands. They have remained prominent through a much-loved clip of them performing ‘Guitar Boogie Shuffle’ while playing each others’ guitars. In 2015 a compilation CD of their two LPs reached No.1 on the New Zealand charts, half a century after they were recorded. The compilation was appropriately titled New Zealand’s Premier Māori Showband.

The Quin Tikis’ journey began in Rotorua in 1961. A group of musicians, some of whom worked at a Rotorua sawmill, decided to form a band. Among the founding members were Gugi Waaka (credited with naming The Quin Tikis), Bill Rawhiti, and John “Gimmick” Cameron. They later welcomed Ronnie Cooper on bass and Hector Epae on piano and vocals. The earliest record of this lineup comes from photos taken in September 1961 by John Rykenberg at the Māori Community Centre in Auckland, featuring an unknown fill-in saxophonist. Marsh Cook joined them on saxophone at the Māori Community Centre in December 1961.

The Quin TIkis performing at the Gisborne Opera House, 1962. 
Photo credit: Gisborne Photo News, 14 June 1962
The Quin Tikis.
The Quin Tikis in Vietnam: Weasel Taiaroa, Gary Wahrlich, Kevin Rongonui, Freddy Summers, Keri Summers, Sam Mateparae
Photo credit: Noel Bell
The Quin Tikis - Enchanted Sea (Philips)
Make Friends with the Quin Tikis (Sunshine)
Miss New Zealand 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 Review Dunedin, July 1965
Make Friends With The Quin Tikis was released eary in 1968 on the Australian Sunshine label, at the time owned by Ivan Dayman, Pat Aulton and Nat Kipner but soon to be taken over by Festival who would then reissue this on their budget Calender label.
Make Friends With the Quin Tikis - 1968, Sunshine Records. 
Gary Wahrlich with The Quin Tikis on the set of Don't Let It Get You, with Howard Morrison fronting. The set, designed by Pat Hanly, would influence the set design of most New Zealand pop shows for the next decade.
The Quin Tikis (L- R): Sam Matepaere, Gary Wahrlich, Weasel Tairoa, Keri Summers, John Ferguson, Rim D Paul, Freddy Summers. 
Rim D. Paul and The Quin Tikis - Runaway (Zodiac)
Howard Morrison Quartet accompanied by the Quin Tikis - (Ghost) Riders in the Sky (La Gloria)
The Quin Tikis at the Shiralee in 1962, with saxophonist Anzac Te Oka, drummer Gimmick Cameron and guitarist Gigi Waaka. The singer is unknown.
Photo credit: Auckland Libraries 1269-E0719-19
The Quin Tikis at the Māori Community Centre, Halsey Street, Auckland, 1961.
Photo credit: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 1269-L0591-04
Sam and the Quin Tikis - Honky Tonk (Philips)
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
The July 2015 Quin Tikis compilation reached No.1 on the album charts
Keri and the Quin Tikis - Keep On Lovin' Me (Philips)
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
Rim D. Paul and The Quin Tikis in the early 1960s
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
Veterans who entertained troops in Vietnam, and some relatives, receiving medals for wartime service at Government House, Auckland, 20 July 2016, with Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae. Dinah Lee is fourth from left; among the others present are George Emery (receiving on behalf of Lenny Thompson, Māori Te Pois), David Mateparae (son of Sam Mateparae of the Quin Tikis), Paul Naera (Māori HyMarques), Mrs Mahora Waaka (Māori Volcanics), David Rivers (for Phillip Rivers, the Tikiwis), Terence Sorenson (The Sheratons), Pamela Waaka (for Nuki Waaka, (Māori Volcanics), Maurice Watene (for Arapeta Watene, Māori Te Kiwis), and Katrina Werahiko (for Herewini Selwyn Rawiri, Māori HyMarques).
Photo credit: Government House
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' drummer Gary Wahrlich steps to the front of the stage
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Quin Tikis
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Anzac Te Oka
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Sam and the Quin Tikis - Route 66 (Philips)
The Quin Tikis in 1968
Joe Brown Presents the Quin Tikis
The Quin Tikis in the US, c.1973. From left: Kevin Rongonui, Weasel Taiaroa, Gary Wahrlich, Keri Northover, Phil Rivers, Fred Summers.
Photo credit: Phil Rivers Collection
Quin Tikis with Howard Morrison and John Hore
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
"Dance! Look! Listen! to NZ's Greatest Stars." Johnny Campbell and The Detours appear with John Hore, Toni Williams, and the Quin Tikis. Dancetime Spectacular, 9 July 1965
Keri and the Quin Tikis - Get Me To The Church (Philips)
Rim D Paul - Runaway title song
Eddie Low (rear left) with The Quin Tikis on an album released for Joe Brown's label in 1968
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
Johnny 'Gimmick' Cameron of the Quin Tikis with singer Joy Yates, Picasso Coffee Lounge, Grey's Avenue, Auckland, 18 December 1961.
Photo credit: Rykenberg; Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, 1269-E0126-34
Quin Tikis in Don't Let It Get You (1966)
Kim Krueger accompanied by the Quin Tikis Showband - Walkin' After Midnight (La Gloria)
Keri Summers performing in Gisborne with the Quin Tikis, 1967
Photo credit: Gisborne Photo News, 17 May 1967
When the Haka Became Boogie: the Māori Showbands (1990)
The Quin Tikis, in Nelson to perform in the heats of the Miss New Zealand show, May 1967.
Photo credit: Nelson Photo News, 27 May 1967
Lisa Nuku, Quin Tikis' vocalist, performs with the band at the Gisborne Opera House. The first half of the programme was a talent quest.
Photo credit: Gisborne Photo News, June 1962
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
Members:

Gugi Waaka

Hector Epae

Sam Mateparae

Keri Summers

Rufus Rehu

Rim D. Paul

Eddie Low

Bill Rawhiti

Marsh Cook

Anzac Te Oka

Dora Amahau

Fred Summers

Gary Wahrlich

John Cameron

Kevin Rongonui

Phil Rivers

Tab Paenga

Weasel Taiaroa

John Ferguson

Ronnie Cooper

Labels:

Zodiac


Sunshine Records


Joe Brown


La Gloria

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