Francis Kora is a New Zealand musician and actor. He currently performs with the groups Kora and the

Modern Māori Quartet The Modern Māori Quartet (MMQ) is a showband musical group from New Zealand. The group comprises core members James Tito, Matariki Whatarau, Maaka Pohatu and Francis Kora, with occasional rotation of the lineup depending on availability of the p ...

. He co-wrote and performed songs, with the other band members, for the Modern Māori Quartet's debut album ''That's Us!'' (2017). Kora starred in the 2014 film ''The Pā Boys''. He co-hosts

Māori Television Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

's ''My Party Song'' as part of the Modern Māori Quartet. In 2018 Kora, alongside other members of ''Modern Māori Quartet'', began touring their cabaret show ''Modern Māori Quartet: Two Worlds.''

Early life

Kora was born in Whakatane, New Zealand and is of

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...

(Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Pūkeko) descent. Francis and his three brothers Laughton, Stuart and Brad grew up entertaining. As kids they played RSAs, rugby clubs and Cossie clubs in Whakatane, under the guidance of their Father. Francis is a graduate of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School (Te Kura Toi Whakaari ō Aotearoa) earning a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting) in 2003 .

Career

Music

In the 1990s Kora and his three brothers, Laughton, Brad and Stuart, founded the band, Kora. He is a member of the Māori showband the Modern Māori Quartet, alongside

Maaka Pohatu Maaka Pohatu is a New Zealand actor and musician. Pohatu is also a founding member of Māori showband the Modern Māori Quartet. He co-wrote and performed songs, with the other band members, for the Modern Māori Quartet's debut album ''That's Us ...

Matariki Whatarau Matariki Whatarau is a New Zealand actor and musician. Whatarau is also a founding member of Māori showband the Modern Māori Quartet. He co-wrote and performed songs, with the other band members, for the Modern Māori Quartet's debut album ''Tha ...

and James Tito.

Film and television

Kora made his debut feature film appearance as a lead actor in ''The Pā Boys'' in 2014.

Theatre

In 2018 Francis, along with other members of

, began touring their cabaret show ''Modern Māori Quartet: Two Worlds.''

Personal life

Kora has a young daughter, Coco-Grace and a young son Akira Tait Kora. He wrote the Modern Māori Quartet's song "Shine" for her, and dedicated it to "all the kids in the world".

Discography

* ''Happy Hour'' (2014) * ''That's Us!'' (2017)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kora, Francis Year of birth missing (living people) Living people New Zealand male Māori actors New Zealand male film actors People from Whakatāne 21st-century guitarists 21st-century New Zealand male singers New Zealand male singer-songwriters Toi Whakaari alumni New Zealand male television actors 21st-century New Zealand male actors New Zealand bass guitarists New Zealand Māori male singers Ngāi Tūhoe people Ngāti Awa people