Classically trained with a Master of Music in violin performance, Mahuia cut his teeth in the screen world before tearing down the walls between orchestra, underground electronica and cinematic storytelling. A defining chapter of his career was his collaboration with the late Lee Tamahori on Mahana; a partnership forged through countless hours in the studio, shaping every cue with shared obsession and deep creative trust. That commitment paid off, earning Mahuia and Tama Waipara the APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award (APRA Silver Scroll | Tohu Pūmanawa).

From there, his screen work accelerated.

He moved into psychologically charged storytelling with Housebound, layered atmospheric tension through Shadow in the Cloud, brought aching intimacy to Fantail, and scored the hard-hitting drama Muru, inspired by the Tūhoe raids. His transition into long-form television saw him score The Gone, a series that went on to win multiple awards across two consecutive seasons — including Best Original Score at the New Zealand Television Awards and the APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award (Tohu Paerangi) — cementing his reputation as a composer who can sustain emotional depth over evolving narrative arcs.

That momentum carried him into international territory. Mahuia was next tapped to compose the score for SpongeBob SquarePants: Plankton: The Movie, a leap from prestige drama to animated global phenomenon that showcases the true breadth of his musical language.

Alongside his screen work, Mahuia has quietly helped shape the sound of modern Aotearoa’s biggest voices. He is a co-writer of Six60’s chart-topping anthem “Pepeha”, and a long-time creative partner of TEEKS, co-writing the deeply resonant songs “Something to Feel” and “Grapefruit Skies.” His close collaboration with Maisey Rika has also produced award-winning music, including “Ruaimoko,” which received the APRA Maioha Award (Tohu Maioha), bridging taonga tuku iho with contemporary soul. His orchestral and string arrangements have expanded the music of artists including Brooke Fraser, Rob Ruha and L.A.B., bringing symphonic weight into the heart of popular music.

Beyond the studio, he is a founding member of The Black String Quartet and a frequent collaborator with the Auckland Philharmonia and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, including work that contributed to a Gold Award at the New York Festivals Radio Awards for a Rob Ruha orchestral collaboration.

Whilst you may not know Mahuia’s name, you’ve almost certainly felt his work. It lingers, a hook you can’t shake, a sound that follows you out of the cinema or into the drive home. That kind of imprint isn’t accidental. It’s the mark of a composer who understands exactly how music lives inside story.

By Laina Cheung