Dame Kiri Te Kanawa on life, lockdown and why Aotearoa is never far from her mind
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa on Life, Lockdown, and Her Love for Aotearoa
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa may reside across the globe, but her heart remains in Aotearoa. She shares her experiences of lockdown, life in the Bay of Islands, and the English countryside.
Growing Up in New Zealand
“My parents moved from Gisborne to Auckland for my singing career when I was around 12. By 21, I was in England, so I never truly settled in one place in New Zealand. My childhood in Gisborne was filled with playing in the water. My father, Thomas, worked on the roads, and my mother, Nell, cooked for young students coming from the countryside. Our life in Auckland was simple by today’s standards, but we had a lovely view of the sea.”
Life in the UK during the Swinging Sixties
“I listen to radio programs playing pop music from that era; Van Morrison’s band Them singing ‘Gloria’ reminds me of my early years in England. It was an incredible time, but I was always singing or training.”
“We have many young singers at the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation who frequently return to New Zealand. I’m amazed because I couldn’t afford to go back even once. Back then, phone calls to my parents cost £1 a minute. The difference between now and 50 years ago is enormous. Those times with so little contact with loved ones were quite sad. I wish I had free Skype and FaceTime with my parents.”
Living in East Sussex
“I love the freedom here. There’s fresh air, wind, and sea air—sometimes too much wind. I enjoy the silence, and I get plenty of it—there are no planes where I live. I’ve been here for over 20 years.”
“My favorite room is the kitchen. It has a beautiful view of the South Downs. I’m a keen cook, though not very good. People say they like my food, but it’s nothing like the New Zealand-fusion cuisine by Peter Gordon. I make quick dishes like fish chowder and schnitzel. I have a house in the Bay of Islands where we get lots of fresh fish. I also like spare ribs—I marinate them and grill them on the barbecue. And I have a wonderful recipe from Sir Georg Solti: rice cooked with onions and saffron—it goes with everything.”
Dream Dinner Party
“Nelson Mandela, whom I’ve met, would be first on the list, followed by our New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. I’d also invite the late poet Emily Dickinson, author Antonia Fraser, and CNN anchor Anderson Cooper. That would make for a fascinating conversation—I’d just sit and listen.”
Lockdown Life
“I was in the Bay of Islands when lockdown started. We couldn’t even go fishing—the coastguard would tell anyone in a boat to return to the marina. I was locked down in New Zealand for a month, then returned to lockdown here. At 76, I’m vulnerable, so I’ve hardly gone anywhere for four months. We Zoom with young singers regularly and talk to my foundation students.”
“I tell them: ‘Keep focused, keep going, don’t stop, sing songs, keep a recital program going—it’s very important.’ There are three of us friends locked down here because we came from New Zealand together. Anyone can visit the garden, but no one comes into the house. I haven’t been to the supermarket—we’ve had things delivered.”
For more information, visit The Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation.
