NEWS

As a singer, Robert was a member of all the national choirs – the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir (NZSSC), New Zealand Youth Choir and Voices NZ – and from 2007-08 was music director of NZSSC, leading the choir on tour to Brazil and Argentina. Robert served as Artistic Advisor at CANZ and was recently part of the Aotearoa Choral Academy’s artistic team and trustee on the CANZ board.

Robert inspired two decades of tertiary students through his teaching roles at the University of Auckland and guided thousands of secondary students with his work for The Big Sing choral competition. He served on the New Zealand Choral Federation Board (2018–2022), was Deputy Director of the New Zealand National Singing School, part of the artistic team for the New Zealand Children’s Choral Academy, Co-chair of SOUNZ Centre for NZ Music and a trustee of the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation.

As a composer and arranger, Robert’s works often featured voice and were strongly influenced by Te Ao Māori sounds and perspectives. Earlier this year, Robert’s full-length arrangement of Mozart’s Requiem – Reimagining Mozart – was performed by Voices NZ as part of the Aotearoa Festival of the Arts and last year to international critical acclaim in Hamburg and in London, where Voices NZ was joined by the BBC Singers. Other pieces arranged by Robert for CANZ ensembles include Tuirina Wehi’s ​’Waerenga-ā-Hika’ for NZYC.

“Robert was a much loved and influential figure in the Aotearoa New Zealand choral scene, and we will all miss him very much. I will remember him as warm, thoughtful and possessing extraordinary musical talents,” says Richard Sorrenson, Chair of the CANZ Board of Trustees.

Karen Grylls (CNZM), CANZ Artistic Director Emerita and founder of Voices NZ, gave a tribute to Robert on RNZ Concert, 20 July 2026: “Robert was just brilliant,” she said, “For him, it was all about musical connection … between te ao Māori and the Western choral tradition. He would wish that we continue that journey – take risks and be ourselves. And that’s what I admired about Robert; he was prepared to be himself. Haere atu rā e te whetū tārake o te ao waiata tira, kua wehe atu ki a Pōhutukawa kia pīata iho mai i te uma o Ranginui (Farewell the stand alone star, the peerless star that has gone to Pōhutukawa (Matariki star) to become a shining star in the chest of Ranginui – Ataahua Papa)”.

Arne Herrmann, CANZ Chief Executive, says Robert’s music, teachings and philosophy will be his legacy, one which will be cherished for years to come, “Haere ra, Robert Wiremu, with deepest respect and gratitude from your fellow trustees from the CANZ board, our staff, artistic colleagues and singers. We will miss you”.

Image credit: Arie Hoeflak