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Family violence prevention inspire award-winning music by Christchurch twins

Tuesday, 26 September 2023

Twin brothers and Shirley Boys' High School students Teakaraupo and Tane Māhuta Pakeha-Heke spread messages about family violence prevention with their music. The pair from Christchurch won first place in the duo division at the 2023 Tangata Beats

After witnessing violence in their own home, twins from Shirley Boys’ High School are using their voices — harmonised of course — to spread their message about family violence prevention.

Tane Māhuta and Teakaraupo Pakeha-Heke, also known as Twin Harmony, won a national award at the 2023 Tangata Beats school music competition in the duo division last Friday.

The 18-year-old brothers harmonise and strum guitar chords while singing original lyrics that have powerful messages behind them.

“Our music is very heavily based on stopping family violence … women and children are treasures and they should be treated that way,” Tane Māhuta said.

The pair are survivors. They said their father was in a gang and a “perpetrator of family violence” that their mother was often the victim of.

Tane Māhuta (right) and Teakaraupo Pakeha-Heke spread messages about family harm prevention with their music.
Tane Māhuta (right) and Teakaraupo Pakeha-Heke spread messages about family harm prevention with their music.

“We saw first-hand what family violence and drug abuse did … and we preach that you can get out of family violence through your whānau,” said Tane Māhuta.

They began singing with their mother, Talla Pakeha, when they were four years old and have followed that passion to become self-taught musicians.

Their mother, who loved singing and performing herself, died when the boys were five years old. Their nan Gwyneth Beard, who plays a “big part” in their music, cares for them and their younger brother, Ngātanahira Pakeha.

“My nan works with violence, domestic and sexual abuse groups … so when my nan is doing her mahi out in the community she knows what she’s talking about because she’s done it in our whānua,” Tane Māhuta said.

Teakaraupo added that they write lyrics with their nan because she “likes our sound, but she really looks at the messages” behind their songs.

RnB music from the 90s and soul music from the 70s inspire their sound.

They sang their original song called Brighter Day at Tangata Beats, which Teakaraupo said is about overcoming suicidal thoughts and moving out of a troubled mindset.

“When the topic of suicide is brought up, it's easy for a lot of people to turn their head [and] not really listen, which is why we write our songs because even though they’re hard topics to speak about, they give positive messages,” he said.

“We sing as much as we can about believing in yourself.”

The Pakeha-Heke brothers and Shirley Boys
The Pakeha-Heke brothers and Shirley Boys' High School students won first place in the duo division at the 2023 Tangata Beats national music competition.

Twin Harmony’s other original songs, E tū Whānua and Believe, have similar messages of self-belief and encourage others to break the cycle of family violence and connect as a whānau.

The brothers said they were “shocked” to win first place because so many talented acts from around the country performed at the Auckland event. They won $1000 with the award.

Tangata Beats started in 1994 as the Urban Beats Award within Smokefree Rockquest. The event has become its own competition and recognises the unique cultural identity of Aotearoa and the South Pacific.

Shirley Boys’ music teacher Jane Herman said the school is “incredibly proud” of the work the Pakeha-Heke brothers do as leaders in the school community, and also in the wider community by sharing their story.

“They’re self-taught musicians, the music line runs through their family, but their talent and their song writing is very much something they do themselves,” said Herman.

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