Tihema Bennett
Born 22 December 1995
Born in Wellington with Māori (Te Arawa, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaaue) and Irish ancestry, Tihema began playing piano at the age of 5, and by the age of 13 had also picked up guitar and saxophone. He played in a number of bands and music groups throughout his early years including Haast Eagle and Black Jacket Rabbit. In 2010, he composed his first television project- the documentary film Confessions of Prisoner T for Maori TV. At the age of 17, he moved to Barquisimeto, Venezuela for one year to attend the Conservatorio Vicente Emilio Sojo, a music Conservatorium where the likes of Gustavo Dudamel once studied. While in Venezuela he studied piano and saxophone and participated in a number of ensembles including the Barquisimeto Saxophone Ensemble and the Big Band Jazz group. Upon returning to New Zealand, he began studying a BMus in Composition at the University of Auckland and graduated in 2019. While at University he was working under the guidance of composers such as Eve DeCastro Robinson and Leonie Holmes. In 2019 he was nominated alongside the brilliant Joel Haines for Best Original Score at the NZTV Awards for their composition work on In Dark Places. In 2020, Tihema and Joel won the Gold Latitude Award for Best Original Score for In Dark Places in London. Tihema has composed music for projects from major NZ production companies such as South Pacific Pictures, 10 000 Company, Scottie Productions, and The Downlow Concept. His work has been featured in commercials for international companies such as Cisco Systems Inc., and Fletcher Building ltd. and in commercial campaigns featured on TVNZ 1, TVNZ 2, THREE, Maori TV, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube
Tihema currently resides in Auckland, New Zealand.
Further Information
full Credits
Feature Films
In Dark Places (TVNZ 1, 2018)
A Minute After Midnight (Logan Marshall Films, 2016)
Confessions of Prisoner T Documentary (Maori TV, 2013)
Television/Web Series
Beyond the Veil Ep. 5 “Te Kohu” (TVNZ, 2022)
Conspiraseries (RNZ Tahi, 2022)
Hui Hoppers (TVNZ Ondemand, 2023)
Brutal Lives Season 2 (The Coconet TV, 2023)
Commercials
“NZ Story” (The New Zealand Government, 2022)
“New homes so good, you won’t want to leave” (Fletcher Living, 2020)
“Between isolation and inspiration, there's a bridge” (Cisco, 2019)
“Experience Clarence Road Eatery” (Clarence Road Eatery, 2018)
“Wananga 2016” (Brain Injury Whanau Action Project, 2016)
Opening Titles
Kiwi and Cat (TVNZ, 2022)
The Art of Entertaining (Podcast RNZ, 2022)
Waka Huia (TVNZ 1, 2016)
Short Films
The Difference Between Pipi and Pupu (Taj Mohammed-Kapa, 2022)
Cherry (John Dichi, 2022)
Wind Song & Rain (Matariki Bennett, 2021)
Thirst (Logan Marshall Films, 2020)
Toku Reo (Matariki Bennett, 2020)
Anyone Home (Logan Marshall Films, 2018)
Luca (Grace Goulter, 2017)
