Dame Kiri to sing on

Kiri te Kanawa came to London at the age of 22

Opera star Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has told the BBC she will continue singing - partially in order to keep a foundation for struggling New Zealand singers and musicians in the public eye.

Dame Kiri set up the foundation for young New Zealanders as there currently are no scholarships for them available in the UK.

She has previously gone on record as saying she would stop singing at 60 - a birthday she celebrates this year.

But she told BBC World's HardTALK programme that it was important for her to make sure the foundation is "on the move and keep it active" - and that as her voice was still working, she now saw no reason to stop.

"Having had all my experience over here in Europe, I've got to try and provide some sort of funding for them," she added.

She stressed that funding could also take the form of "advice, moral support, [or] asking Covent Garden just to listen to a singer where an agent either won't give that opportunity or the singer can't get in and get an audition."

Welfare controversy

Dame Kiri also said she wanted to act as a lifestyle guide to some of the aspiring singers.

She warned that securing a long-term career in classical music - as opposed to a short-lived one in pop - was very difficult.

Dame Kiri has been criticised for her remarks about the Maori community

"Once they see a very good singer on the way, everyone will want a piece of the action," she said.

"Classical music can give them a very nice income and great longevity, because I'm 60 now and still singing and still earning. That's something that they should be guided by - if they want a long career, they can have a long career if they look after themselves."

She also said she wanted to help encourage education in New Zealand's Maori community, which she herself is from.

Dame Kiri caused some controversy last year in an interview with an Australian newspaper in which she said Maoris were too dependent on welfare, stating that "I see too many people living on benefits."

National Maori Affairs spokesman Georgina te Heuheu said the comments were "unfortunate and... inaccurate," but Dame Kiri told HardTALK she stood by them.

"I don't think you should regret whatever you've said that is the truth," she said.

"The thing is that it did rattle a small cage. I see in all societies - not just new Zealand society - that in the society of the lower income, or those on benefit, there is something to be lethargic, and not to try hard enough, because they have nowhere to go."

She added, however, that on her return to New Zealand she would be "more active."

"I would like to say very much to the people in the Maori parliament, 'come along, come and help them - don't just sit up there and criticise'."