Singer songwriter Emma Paki needs no introduction but just like removing your shoes as you enter a house, you must remove your inhibitions to enter hers.

Born in Whakatane in 1968, her voice may whakapapa to the ethereal patupaiarehe of the Urewera ranges, but it was her great aunt who introduced Emma to her first musical instrument, the piano, when she was six. When she was eight her Dad scored her a $40 guitar through his mates from the next town. Then the hippie aunties down the road taught her a few chords, surprised that she picked up the strum straight away but as she says, that's what it's like being Maori.