I really can't go any further in explaining Mauri Ora and it's creative evolution, without talking about Francie!Not only was she there in the beginnings of Mahi Ora, but she was there before Mauri Ora became a programme.
We first used her voice to record talking books for Mahi Ora and in those days, it mean't a weekend in 'the sweat box' - the name given to a small recording booth Jono had created in his warehouse (where we filmed all the introductions to the Mahi Ora videos).
We all soon discovered that Francie had this cool, easy to listen to voice so it was an easy choice to make when it came to recording all the introductions to Mauri Ora. Francie was our girl!!!!
Tatai Irorangi (one of the Mauri Ora audio's) will always remain one of my favorites. Francie would rock on into our studio - which was now way bigger than the sweat box - grab her a glass of water and 'pump out' whatever was required of her! She didn't always get the words right (especially the English ones) but she did it all with great passion.
When she got it wrong, we would all roll around in fits of laughter, with Francie taking it all in her stride, returning back to the recording room and fixing her mistakes!
When times were hard, she was the first to be there and the last to leave! She did all of this as well as manage her and her partner, Simon Newton, company and create learning resources that enhanced the learning outcomes of the programme.
Truely a wahine of mana, he tangata rongonui - the fab and fit Ms Francis Taylor!
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