Te Rangi Pai papers.

Te Rangi Pai was the stage name of Fanny Rose Porter (Poata) a famous Maori concert hall singer of the early 1900s. Born at Tokomaru Bay in 1868 Fanny was the eldest daughter of Herewaka Porourangi Potae (also known as Te Rangi-i-paea) and Thomas Porter.

Fanny was attended Mrs Sheppard’s Ladies School in Napier and possibly a private school in Wellington. As a young woman Fanny was a popular amateur singer, performing at home and at concerts in the Gisborne area. She had a fine natural contralto voice and at the suggestion of the Australian singer Madame Patey studied singing in Australia in the 1890s.

In October 1891 she married civil servant John Howie.

In early 1901 Fanny travelled to England with her husband, to study with the baritone Charles Stanley. In England as ‘The Princess Te Rangi Pai’ she performed widely including promenade and formal concerts, fashionable soirees and charity performances. She sang at the Royal Albert Hall on several occasions including the Grand Scotch Festival on St Andrew’s Eve 1902.

She returned to New Zealand in 1905, and toured the country in 1906 and 1907. However, continuing health problems led to retire in 1908. In retirement she taught singing and composed many Maori songs including ‘Hine e hine’.

Fanny died at Opotiki in May 1916 and was buried at Maungaroa.

For further information see Tony Chadwick. Howie, Fanny Rose - Biography, from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 1-Sep-10 URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/3h40/1