The concert

Hero image: Pakipaki School performing at the Te Māori concert, Auckland Town Hall 1988. Collection Reference: TZP96634. Year: 1988. Credit: TVNZ, Pakipaki School, Te whānau o Te Pakipakitanga o Hinetemoa.

A tribute concert was held to celebrate the Te Māori exhibition in 1988. The concert presented an opportunity for the many performing groups to present their items of poi, action song, waiata and haka, which had been especially composed for Te Māori.

The stage was brimming with Māori talent and performers including Herbs, the Yandall Sisters, Soul on Ice, Hammond Gamble, Patea Māori Club and others. Kapa haka groups who performed on the night included, Te Waka Huia, Te Rautahi Cultural Group, Manutaki and Te Ariki Tamatea.

The waiata “Te Hokinga Mai” composed by Bishop Max Mariu and Taite Cooper was the final item of the night. The popular song became the iconic anthem for Te Māori exhibition.

Te Māori concert – Te Hokinga Mai (Part one)

This excerpt from the 1988 Te Māori concert includes the solo performance from Cara-Lee Pewhairangi (Te Whānau-a-Ruataupare). Cara-Lee performs the waiata Haere Mai composed by her great aunt, famous East Coast composer, Tuini Ngāwai.

Waka Huia: Houngarea marae

This excerpt from a 1997 episode of Waka Huia features an interview with Tom Higgins (Ngāti Manawa) at Houngarea Marae in Pakipaki. Tom explains the origins of the waiata Te Hokinga Mai.

According to Tom, the words for the song were composed by Taite Cooper and Bishop Max Mariu. Tom, along with Ripeka Wiki came up with the tune and actions, which they then taught to the children of Pakipaki School. The local people of Houngarea marae perform Te Hokinga Mai in this clip.

Te Māori concert – Te Hokinga Mai Part two

This 1988 footage features the live performance of the song Te Hokinga Mai performed by Pakipaki School at the 1988 Te Māori concert, Auckland Town Hall.