TAKU PIKI AMOKURA MY BELOVED ONE

Te Ao Hou, July 1958, Page 43

TAKU PIKI AMOKURA MY BELOVED ONE RECORDED BY MATUTAERA TERA tetahi huihuinga i tu ki te Paku-o-te-rangi, te marae o Putiki, wahi o Whanganui. Tokoiti nei nga tangata i reira, a ko taua huihuinga, he whiriwhiri i etahi take iti nei. Ka puta nga korero mihi … ka waiatatia nga waiata whaka-aroha. Kua taha ke i te waenganui-po, ka hoki-hoki ki o ratou kainga, te hunga i hui mai. Ko tetahi o te hunga i hui nei, he wahine whakapono, a, he wahine hoki e whakamatautau ana ki nga waiata a nga tupuna. Ko tona hokinga atu ki te kainga, kei te noho tonu te ngakau pouri i roto i a ia, mo nga korero me nga waiata o taua po. Ka moe ia, a, ka moemoea. I roto i tana moemoea, ka kite a ia i tetahi huihuinga nui rawa. No te timatatanga o nga whaikorero, ka tu a ia ki te waiata i tana waiata. I a ia tonu e waiata ana, kei te tangi ia. Ka oho ake a ia i tana moe, kei e tangi tonu ia, engari me te mau tonu o nga kupu me te rangi o te waiata i waiatatia e ia i roto i tana moemoea. Ka tahuri a ia ki te whakaara i tana tane, kia tikina he pene, he pepa, hei tuhi i te waiata ra. Ko te waiata nei, he tangi nana mo te minita mo Kingi lhaka, ka tata te wa e nukuhia ai ki Poneke. Ko te wahine nei, ko Waiharakeke Waitere, o Ngati Apa, o Mua upoko, o Whanganui, na, i tuhia ai enei korero, me tenei waiata, hei whakaatu ki nga iwi, kei te mau tonu inaianei, te mana o o tatou matua, tupuna, mo runga i nga taonga o nehera. He waiata ataahua te waiata nei, a e tika ana kia uru ki roto i nga waiata a muri ake nei uru ai ki “Nga Moteatea.” Ko te kaitito o te waiata nei, ko Waiharakeke Waitere, kei Utiku e noho ana, a he tangi ki a Kingi Ihaka me tana whanau, E whai ake nei te waiata nei: Taku piki amokura, amohia te aroha; E kore rawa e mutu i nga tau maha e. Ka haere koe te takiwa, titiro iho ki nga awa (1.) He roimata no te iwi e tangi atu i muri nei e. Ko Whanganui tenei, hei putiki i te aroha; Tiehutia te wai ko Whangaehu tera. Turakina te rakau, ko Turakina te awa: Tikeitia te waewae, ko Rangitikei e. Ka tangi taku mapu i konei e taku piki amokura, E tuku nei te roimata i aku kamo e…. Nga Whakamarama: (1.) “Titiro iho ki nga awa”: Ko te pariha e karangatia nei ko Aotea-Kurahaupo, ko ona rohe i timata atu i Parewanui ki Opunake, a ko nga awa, ko Rangitikei, Turakina, Whangaehu me Whanganui. (2.) Katahi ano tenei wahine, ka tito waiata, a me ki, na te po i homai ki a ia. THERE was a gathering at Te Paka-o-te-rangi, the Putiki marae, at Wanganui. There were only a few persons present to arrange and finalise a few matters. During the occasion, speeches were delivered, all of which were followed by the singing of ancient Maori songs of a somewhat sad nature. It was well after midnight, when those assembled departed for their respective homes. Amongst those present, was a woman of faith and one who took an interest in learning the ancient Maori songs of her particular tribe. Arriving home, she was saddened by what was said and sung during the night. Eventually, she retired o bed and soon fell asleep. No sooner was she asleep however, when she had a most vivid dream. In her dream, she witnessed a vast gathering of Maoris at which a number of orations were given. Following one of the speeches, she was obliged to sing a lament, and whilst doing so, tears readily came to her eyes. When she awoke, her face was wet with tears, but the strange feature of this true incident, is the fact that she not only remembered the words of her lament, but also the air. She had sung this as a farewell song for the Rev. K. Ihaka who was about to be transferred to Wellington. The woman concerned is Mrs Waiharakeke Waitere, of the Ngati-Apa, Muaupoko and Whanganui tribes, and this incident is recorded in order to reveal to the public in general that Maori ‘mana’ still exists today. It is a beautiful song—a real Maori classic, which should find a place in future editions of “Nga Moteatea.” Here then, is the English rendition of the song composed by Mrs W. Waitere of Putiki, as a lament to the Rev. K. Ihaka and his family, prior to their departure: My esteemed, beloved one, uplift that which bears love; A love that will ever flourish till eternity. Where'ver you walk, ever behold our ancient rivers; For they are but the tears of those who mourn your loss, my loved one. Tis Whanganui that calmly flows, to bind together charity; Turbulent waters run close by, for tis Whangaehu A tree once felled: the origin of Turakina; Long steps taken: the origin of Rangitikei. My lament flows freely, oh my esteemed, beloved one; Freely too do tears flow from my eyes, my loved one.

Some Explanations to My Beloved One “Our ancient rivers” referred to in the second verse, are Rangitikei, Turakina, Whangaehu and Whanganui. The Maori Pastorate which was under Mr. Ihaka's charge, extended from Parewanui in the Rangitikei district to Opunake. The main rivers were therefore mentioned in the song. Note: (1.) The English rendition of the Maori, does not convey to the reader, the same feeling as expressed in the Maori. The words in Maori are indeed classical and cannot be translated to give a precise interpretation. (2.) It is interesting to note, that Mrs Waitere, the composer of this song, had never before composed a Maori song, and her first has indeed surpassed all modern Maori songs; in fact, it is the writer's belief that the standard is equal to a number of classical songs included in treasured volumes such as “Nga Moteatea” and others. Dr D. Sinclair is, to our knowledge, the first member of the Maori race to have been elected member of an Education Board; he joined the Hawkes Bay Education Board last April. At Tolaga Bay, where he practises medicine, he has taken an active interest in stimulating Maori language and culture teaching. In a letter to Te Ao Hou, he writes: “The future will see an ever-increasing roll of Maori students throughout the Dominion and the Education Department and the various Education Boards must face up to the insistent demand for bi-cultural teachers in all schools with a significant number of Maoris on their rolls.” ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ The New Plymouth Historical Society is now to undertake the maintenance of the reserve surrounding the memorial to Sir Peter Buck at Okoki Pa. As a result of the society's endeavours, a new gate has been provided at the road entrance, another gate repaired, the rails and gate at the entrance painted, growth on the steps of the memorial poisoned to kill off weed growth and shrubs planted on each side of the steps. ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Mr Herepo Harawira sent us a notice of a very popular wedding at Waikare (Bay of Islands) which unfortunately did not get into the last issue. We apologise and give the news here just in case anyone has not heard. Eru Timoko Hadfield, son of Mr and Mrs H. R. Hadfield of Whangarei married Ella Marereira George, only daughter of Mr and Mrs John George. The five northern tribes, Te Aupori, Te Rarawa, Ngatikahu, Ngapuhi and Ngatiwhatua were fully represented; among the thousand visitors who had come to the remote settlement, some had travelled from as far as Dunedin.