Tocker is of Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Tainui (Ngati Maniapoto), Hebrew and Celtic ancestry.
Her debut album 'Clothesline Conversation' was recorded in 1985.
In 2001 by public vote, she was awarded Queer Musician of the Year.
Tocker has continued to give music for creativitiy, learning and self esteem workshops through out the country, and become a trained workshop facilitator in Korowai Whaiora workshops about human rights issues for and by those who have experienced mental illness.
She continues to give community concerts and benefit concerts when she is able to.
She has recorded six albums of her original music. Her retrospective album "Mahinarangi" was named by the NZ Listener as one of NZ's ten best albums of the 20th century.
Her 2003 album HEI HA! was a finalist at the Tui Music Awards. Her six and most recent album is THE MONGREL IN ME in which she celebrates her family heritage which is a mix of Maori, Celtic and Hebrew. She premiered this album at the NZ International Arts Festival and has since given live performances of songs from this album throughout NZ and in Australia.
She is now working on a new album for which she is composing original music for the words of NZ poets.
Other articles on Mahinarangi Tocker: