About Us

Our Mission

Established in 1988, the New Zealand Association of Teachers of Singing Inc. (NEWZATS) is an incorporated society with a long history of furthering the professional development of singing teachers across New Zealand.

Our Objectives Are To:

Encourage and facilitate the provision of professional development opportunities for singing teachers in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Build and maintain a strong community among the singing teachers of Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Recognise and support all styles and forms of singing and vocal performance art, including toi whakaari, Māori performing arts.
Inspire and promote ethical principles and a high level of professional conduct in the teaching of singing.
Acknowledge the context of teaching singing within Aotearoa, New Zealand and honour the partnership within Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Support the promotion of vocal education and research at all levels, for the enrichment of all singers, singing teachers, and of the general public in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Te Ao Māori

Our Mission

He Wai Kōmako: Our Māori Co-Name

NEWZATS He Wai Kōmako was very proud to introduce our Māori Co-Name in 2024. A select committee worked alongside renowned Māori translator Kawiti Waetford to develop a name that encompassed what our members value from being part of the association.

Wai literally translates to water, but also metaphorically translates to smoothness, legato, fluidity. It implies continual renewal, such as professional development, and forward movement, and easily moving around and through barriers. We are all connected through water and are constantly in flux, like the river, but we are still ever present. Wai also implies waiata, and working with song, which is what we all do at NEWZATS.

Kōmako is an alternative spelling to korimako, the name of the bellbird in Aotearoa. The bellbird is of course famous for its birdsong in Aotearoa, and always sings at dawn, bringing song to the start of each day. In many Māori whakataukī, the bellbirds singing together at dawn symbolizes collaboration and weaving our knowledge together to flourish as a unit, which is what we do at each conference and in our everyday lives as teachers.

Ngā ringa kōmiri: Our Whakataukī

This translates to 'The many hands that caress, nurture and shape', which is what we all do for our students. This whakataukī also implies the vocal team behind each student as they continue their lifelong journey in music.