Roger Buckton

Dr Roger Buckton and his family moved to Pūhoi in
1990 and discovered the rich world of Bohemian music
Kiwi style. His professional music career and interest in
early European music helped him appreciate that in his
neighbourhod there was a wealth of European music
which had been undergoing a transformation since the
arrival of the early settlers in 1863. He quickly went about
recording this music, and two cassettes (later CDs) and a
documentary film for the University of Auckland were produced from 1993 to
1996.
After years of research and performances of the music, Buckton’s book
Bohemian Journey: A Musical Heritage in Colonial New Zealand was published in
time for Pūhoi’s 150th anniversary in 2013. The simultaneous publication of Judith
Williams’s book It Takes a Whole Village: the People of Puhoi showed Buckton the
cultural value of her collection of song and verse texts and was the catalyst for
matching song texts and music to realise the rich heritage of song which was fast
disappearing with the loss of the language.
Buckton was an Adjunct Associate-Professor at the University of Canterbury
and lectured in ethno-music, musicianship and music education. He continues to
perform on the dudelsack, alongside other instruments of early music. His aim is to
promote the songs and music in this collection so that these unique Kiwi-Bohemian
musical gems take their place in the multicultural heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand.