Bunny Walters

Tu Tangata, Issue 28, 1 February 1986, Page 24

Bunny Walters

by Margaret Aranga

His real name is Meihi Te Koriri Wahi, to most people he is Bunny Walters. The youngest of a family of seven, Meihi had his first success at the age of 17 with songs such as Brandy and Take the Money and Run. I met Meihi at the Clyde Hotel in Wairoa while he was on a five week promotional tour of the North Island. Born in Katikati Meihi received the nickname “Bunny” from his mother, because when he was a baby he used to “sniff kai, before eating it”. His family has a musical background. Meihi admits that “Mum and God” taught him how to sing. His talent is not only with his voice, but also with a bass guitar which he learned at “parties”. He first started his singing career at high school where he entered numerous talent quests. Later joined up with his older brothers to form a band in Rotoroua. His manager at the time thought it would be good training for him if he took up opera singing. “It was a good experience for me”, he said, but he feels it comes better when you’re “singing from the heart”. He finds writing his own music “very frustrating” because of the tight competition. “There is a lot of pressure upon the entertainer,” said Meihi. Not only from managers, but also from the public. “With age you improve,” he said. This helps overcome such problems as a small amount of people turning up for performances, the occasional drunk

who wishes to become a singer and also the pressure of searching for a hit record. In 1968 Meihi “cracked it overnight” but unfortunately he slipped out of the public eye for some years. He lived in Australia for a year playing in nightclubs and hotels. Being a solo father with three girls Sheree, eight year old Lauren and six year old Hailey, Meihi misses contact with his childen while touring because he is away for some weeks on each promotional tour. Meihi enjoys meeting people and admits that he would like to spend more time in some places so he can visit relatives but he says lack of transport prevents him from getting out. During his two hour performance Meihi made a tribute with a song to Abe Phillips and Tui Teka. Also current songs and rock 'n roll songs can be heard. In between promotional tours Meihi combined with Ann Crummer to produce a television advertisement jingle We are one. “It was a thrill to sing it with Ann and to sing it in the Fowler Centre," he said. Meihi hopes to travel to the United States in the next three years to try the entertainment business there. Also on a promotional tour with Meihi were the Yandall Sisters, Mary, Pauline and Adele; all under the watchful eye of promoter Mary Heremaia. Mete atawhai o te Atua ki a koutou katoa.