Bunny Te Kokiri Miha Waahi Walters (31 May 1953 – 14 December 2016) was a New Zealand singer who had a number of New Zealand hits during the 1970s. He is best known for the hits "Brandy" and "Take the Money and Run".

Of Ngāi Te Rangi descent,^[1] Walters was born and raised in Katikati, a town on the North Island of New Zealand.^[2]

In 1969, he competed against Tui Fox at Joe Brown's at the Rotorua Soundshell during the Search for Stars event held there. Fox was singing similar material to Walters. Fox won the final with Walters coming in second.^[3] His first single, titled "Just Out of Reach", was released in 1969. He then released "It's Been Too Long" and "Can't Keep You Out of My Heart".^[4] During one of the talent quests, held at the Opera House in Palmerston North, he was beaten by singer Richard Turei, whose daughter Metiria Turei would later serve as co-leader of the Green Party in New Zealand.^[5]

Walters made his first television appearance on Happen-Inn, a New Zealand television show.^[6]

After performing at Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan, he received contracts to return to Japan. He gained considerable exposure. The New Zealand Herald reported that he may have also appeared on the Rolf Harris show in London.^[7]

In 1971, he replaced Vaughan Lawrence as the resident singer on Happen-Inn.^[8]

In 1972, he recorded "Brandy" (which reached No. 4 on the pop charts).^[4] It was reported in the edition of 4 May of The New Zealand Herald that due to the big success Walters had with "Brandy" that the song was to be produced in sheet music form.^[9] That same year he had a hit with Take The Money And Run" (which reached #2).^[4]

In 1973 he had a hit with "Home Isn't Home Anymore" (which reached #18).^[4] Also that year he had a gold disc entry with the Bernie Allen arranged "Helena",^[10] a Tat Meager composition also recorded that year by Leapy Lee.^[11][12]

Drama

Walters appeared in the 1978 film Skin Deep.^[27]

The song "Never Say Die" from single the "Never Say Die" / "Gotta Get Outta Here" WEA Records Limited Z10002 was composed and performed by Billy Kristian. It is featured during the closing credits of the 1988 film Never Say Die which starred Temuera Morrison and Lisa Eilbacher. He appeared in an episode of the New Zealand prime-time soap opera, Shortland Street.^[28]

Walters became a Christian in or around 1995/1997. In a 1999 interview, he told The Sunday Star-Times that his conversion came about as a result of a pastor inviting him to church. Because he didn't have much else going on, he was looking forward to attending.^[29] He was living in Queensland, Australia from around 2004, moving around before settling on one of the Islands in Queensland. While living in Queensland, the main amount of singing he did was in church.^[30] In his quest to evangelise, he was in Canada at one stage for a month. While there he preached to an Inuit community.^[29]

Walters died in Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, on 14 December 2016 after a short illness.^[1][31][32]