Marlon Williams Tā Te Manawa Tour of Aotearoa New Zealand Announced

His status cemented as one of Aotearoa's most significant songwriting voices, scooping away the 2025 APRA Silver Scroll award for 'Aua Atu Rā', Marlon Williams (Kāi Tahu, Ngāi Tai) has wisely declared the best way to avert burnout is with a self-imposed period of rest 'n' relaxation. But before he temporarily hangs up his musical hat, the Lyttelton icon is giving local fans one last chance (for the time being) to bask in the on-stage splendour of Williams with his trusty band The Yarra Benders.

Meaning "heart at rest", Williams has announced the Tā te Manawa Tour of Aotearoa New Zealand, playing special double set headline events at Auckland's Civic Theatre, Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre, Nelson's Trafalgar Centre and Christchurch's The Town Hall, before he jets away for a victory lap of Australia, the UK, and Europe. Star and subject of director Ursula Grace Williams' documentary Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua - Two Worlds, which explores Williams' personal journey during the creation of his 2025 album of all te reo waiata Te Whare Tīwekaweka, here's the artist's eloquent explanation of why now is the time to hit pause on showbiz...

"I’m gonna take some time away for a bit.

Probably not ages in the scheme of things, but it’s time to take some time!

I’ve been extraordinarily lucky in that my vocational life has always cleaved very closely to my personal aspirations; I’ve always been able to “live my calling”, as it were. For nearly 20 years I’ve explored both the physical and musical world in the company of incredible musicians, songwriters and friends and it’s been an absolute pleasure.

The catch with it is that because it’s such a blessing to do what you love, it can be easy to overlook the toll it can take over time, on body and soul.

The concept of rāhui is central to te Ao Māori and is indeed familiar to most New Zealanders. As Te Aka, the online Māori dictionary defines it, “to put in place a temporary ritual prohibition, closed season, ban, reserve”. Rāhui can be placed by mana whenua on a specific location out of respect of a tragic death in the area rendering it tapu, and they are also put in place in the pure interests of conservation; the idea that resources can be overtapped, and periods of restriction and recovery are essential to the continued wellbeing of those resources. It was this meaning that helped crystallise my thinking about my own personal case; I want to continue doing what I love for as long as possible, and this is the way to do it.

Tā te Manawa (literally “heart at rest”) is going to be the tour before the break. It will be myself and my wonderful band The Yarra Benders playing two sets for you, comprising songs from my last album Te Whare Tīwekaweka all the way back to my humble first album, and bits of everything in between. I would love to see you there."

Marlon Williams and The Yarra Benders
Tā te Manawa Tour

Friday 22th May - Civic Theatre, Wellington
Saturday 23th May - Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
Wednesday 27th May - Trafalgar Centre, Nelson
Saturday 30th May - The Town Hall, Christchurch

Presales from midday, Friday 20th February, sign up for access via marlonwilliams.co.nz
Tickets for all shows are on sale via Ticketmaster from midday, Tuesday 24th February

Experience Marlon Williams' 2025 APRA Silver Scroll winning 'Aua Atu Rā', co-written with KOMMI (Kāi Tahu, Te-Āti-Awa)...