Biography
Rob Thorne is a New Zealand Māori composer, performer and improviser specialising in taonga pūoro, the traditional instruments of Māori music. He holds an MA in Social Anthropology and has over 25 years of experience blending ancient instrumentation with contemporary techniques, including looping and electronics. His solo album Whāia Te Māramatanga was released in 2013.
Thorne has contributed to several screen projects. He composed the music for the television series Black Coast Vanishings (2023) and provided taonga pūoro for the score of the feature film Mārama (2026), co-composed with Karl Sölve Steven. The soundtrack incorporates traditional Māori instruments alongside orchestral elements.
