MPT9904 CDR7027 duration 58'20"
Highlights from the 1983 New Zealand Polynesian Festival held at the Tomoana Showgrounds, Hastings 25 and 26 February 1983.
"Taniwharau" is the name of one of NZ's premier Māori groups. Based in Waikato 160kms south of Auckland, is under the patronage of Te Arikinui, Dame Te Ataiirangikaahu. The group's name is taken from Māori legend - there are one hundred "taniwha" or sacred monsters in the Waikato river ("rau" = 100). The group won the Festival in 1981 (held at Avondale Raceway, Auckland).
Taniwharau again was accorded winners' status but was challenged by Te Arawa's Ngāti Rangiwewehi who alleged the judges' score sheets were wrongly calculated.
Eventually Ngāti Rangiwewehi was elevated to winners and Taniwharau relegated to 2nd place.
Ngai Tuhoe's Hirini Melbourne of the Department of Māori Studies at Waikato University composed this track.
"Uira tetere" refers to thunder and lightning - the sky is alight, the world reverberates provoking awe and fear."
2. (See also above). Composed by Sonny Melbourne, this modern action song outlines the conflicts that many young Māori are culturally facing
"my Maoriness has been devalued I am a person of two cultures the petrel weeps, the parrot weeps, I weep.?
3. Te Roopu O Manutaki is based in Waipereira, West Auckland under the leadership of Pita Sharples (Ngāti Kahungunu). The group won the third NZ Polynesian Festival in Whangarei 1975. Manutaki represented NZ at the opening of the Sydney Opera House the following year.
This is the version of the battle hymn used by the Māori Battalion during the Second World War.
4. Ngāti Rangiwewehi is based on Awahou marae on the northern shore of Lake Rotorua. This item symbolises the poi being a plumage upon one's brow.
5. Fond memories are recalled from times past.
6. South Taranaki has taken part in all 7 Festivals. This traditional Māori waiata says "I face westward to the landing places of my many waka."
7 Tamatea Arikinui derives its name from the captain of its ancestral waka, Takitimu - Takitimu Pokaiwhenua. This song (comp. Tui Teka/Ngoinoi Pewhairangi "E I Po" topped NZ's "hit parade". "No matter where you go, you take with you my love and affection."
8 Performed as by Tamatea Arikinui - a modern poi song depicting he group's whakapapa from their ancestor, Tamatea Pokai Whenua - 'from the night his origin, from his growth from the male line - myriad s are the descendants of Tamatea Pokai Whenua - spread throughout the Land!
9.Te Roopu Manutaki - haka likens the challenges, which young Māori face today to the battles of yesteryear. On the one hand, it incites the young to warfare and speaks in terms of hand-to-hand combat to destroy the 'enemy', in this case the hurdles and problems, which face Māori people.
10. Te Roopu Manutaki's whakawatea or exit - " goodbye for now, we have finished our work."
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SIDE TWO
1. Ngāti Poneke - action song - "search for our small treasured possessions".
2. Waihirere Māori Club - "Poi aroha" - "Take my poi in friendship and love".
3. Auckland Anglican Māori Club - "Yielded Lord to Thee".
4. Taniwharau - symbolic search for pingao treading the tribal pathways of the ancestors.
5. Aitutaki Enua are descended from Aitutaki, the northernmost of the Cook Islands' southern group of islands. This canoe song is part of a legend associated with Aitutaki.
6. Ngāti Rangiwewehi - haka composed by the male leader, Irirangi Tiakiawa Tahuriorangi.
7. Otautahi - action song - "we have responded to your invitation". The song then establishes genealogical ties between the group and the host tribes.
8. Ngāti Rangiwewehi's whakawatea - tells of the group's tribal waka, Te Arawa and its captain, Tamatekapua.
MPT9905 CDR7028 duration 59'30"
CASSETTE TWO (SIDE 3 OF COMPILATION):
1. Auckland Anglican Māori Club - action song "I lift up mine eyed to the mountains from whence cometh my strength".
2. Waihirere - waiata tawhito - ancestral links with its district.
3. Takirau Māori Club, Whangarei. The entry or Whakaeke - "Listen to the flax snail, listen to its sound coming from above, coming from below . Greetings to you for your invitation".
4. Takirau - "Taku poi kokiri e" - "rise up my poi".
5. Niue Culture group of Auckland sings about the links between Niue and NZ.
6. Kia Ngawari Māori Club, Nelson - action song - "All who gather here, Kia Ngawari greets you hold fast to the Power which comes from above."
7. Taniwharau - haka - a scathing comment on what was said by NZ's first Governor, Lt William Hobson during the signing of the Treaty 6.2.1840, He iwi Kotahi tatou - we are one people - "Tis lies, lies, the audacity to say we are one when you take away my land, pollute my rivers, erect your power houses on land where our homes once stood. let it cease - the blood of our ancestors have been shed."
8. Te Kotahitanga Māori Club, Christchurch. Action song pays tribute to the host tribe, Ngāti Kahungunu and ends with a medley of songs composed by Ngāti Kahungunu's Paraire Tomoana.
9. Te Kotahitanga - poi - describes the journey by the descendants of one of Te Waipounamu's ancestors to various parts of Aotearoa.
10. Taniwharau - whakawatea - Waikato Taniwharau! He piko he taniwha! He piko ke taniwha!
SIDE 4:
1. Waihirere - Whakaeke - pays homage to those who've passed on.
2. South Taranaki - poi - a symbolic journey by the poi to various parts of Aotearoa.
3. Waihirere - Action song - "Oranga hou" - New Life! "Summer, autumn, winter, spring, the four stages of the wonder of life. Awakening! New Life! Reborn! The earth is alive with the songs of birds, the whisper of new growth in the forest of Tane, swinging and swaying with the summer breeze full of the promise of new life the golden sun turns life again, a slowing of everything around, drowsy, drowsing, falling, hush! Cold, windy, wet, angry, time for hibernation. Nature gives and takes, as with life " The song is also symbolic of the leaders of the Waihirere Club. The composers, George and Tangiwai Ria remember the early pioneers, Te Kani te Ua, Ani Taihuka and then Wiremu Kerekere. Ngapo and Pimia Wehi followed him and when they left for Auckland in the early 1980s were succeeded by George and Tangiwai.
4. South Taranaki - choral arrangement of Chas. Gabriel's "Glory for me". "When all my labours and trials are o'er, and I am safe on that beautiful shore, just to be near the dear Lord I adore, will through the ages be glory for me. "
5. Te Roopu Manutaki - poi illustrating "the effervescence of the Māori people . "
6. Maraeroa, Porirua - action song about the moa - "Where are you o moa? "
7. Mawai Hakona - choral - "Have you heard the name of Jesus?"
8. Nga Hau E Wha - Wollongong - action song "Aotearoa".
9. Council of Hawai'ian Heritage - guest group.
10. Ngāti Poneke - whakawatea - tribute to host peoople.