Graham and Joyce Walker were passionate about traditional style folk music and spent many happy years amongst the folk whanau in New Zealand attending folk clubs and folk festivals.
When in 2019 Graham was diagnosed with a terminal illness, less than a year after Joyce had died, he decided to leave their estate for the growth and development of the music they loved.
The Walker Traditional Folk Music Trust is committed to the growth and development of traditional and traditional style folk music, which may have been written in any era, but has roots in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and New Zealand.
By raising the profile of traditional and traditional style folk music in New Zealand and by inspiring and supporting young musicians to experience, learn, and enjoy this music, the Trust aims to ensure the music survives and flourishes in years to come, as a vibrant and active part of New Zealand’s cultural identity, finding new life in the hands of every generation.
The Dual Purposes of the Trust:
1. To support young musicians up to and including 24 years old to learn, improve or develop their Traditional Style Folk Music skills.
2. To raise the profile of Traditional Style Folk Music in New Zealand.
The Walker Trust aims to inspire and support young musicians to experience, learn, and enjoy traditional folk music. Here are some photos from the youth performance awards which were held in 2023 and 2024 at the Hamilton folk Festival and in 2023, 2024, and 2025 at the Wellington Folk Festival
Keeping it Scottish.
ScotStringNZ 2025 was held at the Bella Rakha Retreat in West Auckland from the 19th to the 26thof April, made possible by the support of the Walker Trust and Creative NZ.
The Walker Traditional Folk Music Trust was able to provide funding for the establishment of Public Nuisance, a Border Morris side in Auckland, who perform dances from the Welsh Border region between England and Wales. The dancers wear tatters which flail about them as they spin, weave and follow the contours of the dance.
Walker Trad Trust bought four Heron 26 string Harps made by Shane Stewart, so that four lucky children could have the use of them and benefit from the expert tuition provided by Karen Jones children’s music centre.
