Te Oti Rakena (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Ruanui, Kāi Tahu) is an active performer, researcher and national award winning tertiary teacher.

An American-trained singer, he studied at New England Conservatory in Boston with master teacher Edward Zambara. He received his doctorate in vocal studies from the University of Texas at Austin and undertook three years’ post-doctoral study in Germany.

Te Oti has a distinguished reputation as a quality solo performer. Since returning to New Zealand he has become known for his performances in boutique operas and his commitment to premiering works on themes of national significance. He performed in the world premiere of Eve de Castro-Robinson’s Len Lye the opera, premiered David Hamilton’s work Erebus with the Auckland Choral Society and the New Zealand Premiere of Street Requiem: for the homeless and in 2017 play the Ferryman in Gareth Farr’s operatic version of Renee Liang’s play the Bone Feeder for the New Zealand Opera/Auckland Festival season. In 2018, He premiered the opera Live Drag-an Opera in the making by Claire Scholes with Opera New Zealand.

Te Oti has participated in a number of research initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education for indigenous and minority students in New Zealand, and internationally, and is a respected researcher leader in the field of community music. He works closely with other researchers interested in non-western research methodologies and associated analytical frameworks. He has been a guest editor for the International Journal of Community Music (IJCM), past chair of Community Music Activities a research commision of ISME, and a founding member of the Decolonising and Indigenising Music Education (DIME) Special Interest Group for the International Society for Music Eduction (ISME). He is currently a Principal Investigator on the Centre of Brain Research, and expert advisor for Center for Arts and Social Transformation at University of Auckland and to the Laurer Centre for Community Music at Wilfred Laurier University, Ontario, Canada.

His students have included several high profile New Zealand singers. 2014 Adler Fellow at San Francisco Opera, Hadleigh Adams, Moses Mackay of Sol3 Mio, 2016 Lexus Song quest winner Benson Wilson and Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artists Samson Setu and Manase Latu.

Distinctions/Honours:
- 2021 National Tertiary Excellence Award Winner for Sustained Teaching in Kaupapa Måori Context and Excellence in Supporting Pacific Learners Endorsement
- NZARE Group Award for Success for All, 2012
- University of Auckland Excellence in Teaching (Innovation) 2010
- University of Auckland Research Excellence Awards, 2010
- 2008 University of Auckland Excellence in Equity Award

Responsibilities:

Deputy Dean Tumu, Faculty of Arts and Education

Past Roles

Director of External Relations, School of Music

Coordinator of Vocal Studies (Classical)
Associate-Dean Equity (Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries)
Associate-Dean Māori and Pacific (Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries)

Committee/Professional groups/Services:
- Committee Decolonising and Indigenising Music Education (DIME) a Special Interest Group (SIG) of ISME.
- Chair of Indigenous Steering Committee, Decolonising and Indigenising Music Education (DIME) a Special Interest Group (SIG) of ISME.
- NZ Opera Board Member
- Prima Volta Charitable Trust Board Member
- Sistema Aotearoa Board Member
- Member of the International Society of Music Educators (ISME) member
- Member of the Asia Pacific Community Music Network (APCMN)
- Member of New Zealand Association of Teachers of Singing (NEWZATS)

Areas of Specialisation
Voice Performance
Vocal Pedagogy
Non-Western research methodologies
Community Music Practice
Music and Wellbeing