Niccolo Piccolo, AKA Nicola Mitchell, is an award-winning folk/country singer-songwriter with a passion for te reo Māori. this mahi is a rua reo (bilingual) adventure designed to ignite curiosity creating a interactive and educational experience for tamariki. Niccolo Piccolo is on a mission to leave little kiwi minds with a little more knowledge of te ao Māori.
Iwi affiliation
Waikato/Tainui - Ngaati Mahuta & Pākehā - Scotland & Ireland
Rohe
I am originally from Gore in Southland, Aotearoa and I am currently based in Ōtaki on the Kapiti Coast.
How I got where I am today
I write and play folk/country music and incorporate my passion for te ao Māori into my mahi. People and communities are such a huge part of my life mainly through Country Music and Kapa Haka & working with tamariki on this project is so important to me because of the people who gave me the opportunity to discover and explore my passion for te ao Māori. I created this mahi becasue I believe that anyone who wants to learn should ba able to do that in a fun, safe and inclusive space.
Whānau
Raised in a home of Tom T. Hall & Dolly Parton I am from a whanau of country music lovers. I regularly tour and play across NZ & AUS alongside my big sis; Jenny Mitchell, Twin; Maegan Mitchell and Dad; Ron Mitchell. They are a huge part of my passion for making and performing music!
What grounds me?
Sharing my mahi with my whānau, feeling connected to my Māoritanga & whenua. I'm also a big people person so sharing what I know with curious minds tamariki or not is really rewarding and special to me!
Niccolo Piccolo
Artform: Kids/Tamariki Music
Development Status: Tour Ready
Pitch Video
Media Uploads
Trailer
Synopsis
Niccolo Piccolo brings a colorful, bilingual adventure to primary school tamariki, providing a playful and safe space to discover te ao Māori.
Niccolo Piccolo shows combine the magic of storytelling with the joy of audience participation. Designed to engage and excite busy little minds teaching basic reo Māori and respect for Tikanga, all are welcome to join in the fun - whether your tamariki are just starting their reo Māori journey or are already on their way.
Niccolo Piccolo, AKA Nicola Mitchell, was born in Maruawai Gore and grew up surrounded by music and storytelling. She traces her ancestry to Tainui iwi and her passion for learning and sharing te reo Māori began in high school through kapa haka - an experience filled with encouragement and fun. A few years down the track, Niccolo Piccolo is on a mission to share her passion and leave audiences with a little more knowledge of te ao Māori.
Whaowhia te kete mātauranga Fill the basket of knowledge.
In 2025, Niccolo Piccolo will be releasing a waiata and visiting primary schools around Aotearoa to premiere her music and welcome tamariki into the world of Niccolo Piccolo.
Over the next 24 months she is looking for opportunities as a solo act to work with festivals and groups to connect with schools that are open to becoming a part of this this mahi.
In Late 2025/2026 Niccolo Piccolo is going to tour across the motu. The team is looking for festival opportunities to present this show on stages as well as visiting schools and teaching original waiata in workshops.
Creative Team and Crew
Solo Show:
1. Nicola Mitchell/Niccolo Piccolo
2. Sound & Lighting Engineer
Niccolo Piccolo + Mikey (1 additional band member)
1. Nicola Mitchell/Niccolo Piccolo
2. Sound & Lighting Engineer
3. Mikey Muggeridge - Mandolin
Niccolo Piccolo & Friends (3 additional band members)
1. Nicola Mitchell/Niccolo Piccolo
2. Sound & Lighting Engineer
3. Mikey Muggeridge - Mandolin
4. Violin or Double Bass Player
5. Taonga Pūoro Player
Number of People in the Touring Party
2
Previous Seasons
Project Premiere - Te Anau Waitangi Day Festival (FEB) 2025
Technical Rider & International Touring Info (if applicable)
- View/download document #1 here
Te Anau Waitangi Day - Niccolo Piccolo Premiere
Artform: Kids/Tamariki Music
Development Status: Tour Ready
Media Uploads
Synopsis
Niccolo Piccolo & her helper Mikey went on a Hīkoi to Te Anau Fiordland in the Deep South of Te Wai Pounamu to showcase this mahi to Tamariki and Whānau celebrating Te Tiriti o Waitangi!
We did were at the festival for 3 days and did:
2x waiata wānanga/workshops
2x kids shows
Creative Team and Crew
Nicola Mitchell - Niccolo Piccolo
Mikey Muggeridge - Mandolin
*Festival provided a sound engineer*
Number of People in the Touring Party
2
Free Kids/Tamariki Show! (500 expected attendees) Open to the public and local primary schools.
