Ngawaero's Patere Te Patere a Ngawaero Mr Mervyn McLean's transcription of the music of this song is published on pages 25–27. Ngawaero's song is a patere. Patere are fast, vigorous chants, accompanied by lively gestures and facial expressions, which were usually composed as a reply to insults. Often, as here, the song takes its audience on an imaginary journey, giving the names of influential people related to the singer. Only a brief explanation of the song is possible here. For the full story, the reader is referred to Mr Pei Te Hurinui Jones' important book, ‘King Potatau’ pp. 134–146. ‘Te Ao Hou’ is indebted to Mr Jones' account for the information given here. The translation is also based on Mr Jones' translation. Ngawaero was one of the younger wives of Potatau Te Wherowhero, the first Maori King. Their marriage was the occasion of a very large tribal gathering. Great quantities of food were contributed to the feast, but it was noticeable that one important delicacy was missing. There were no preserved birds (huahua). Ngawaero's people were noted fowlers and the visiting tribes had looked forward to a feast of huahua. The absence of this food was the subject of comment at the time, and after the visitors had returned to their homes, one of them, a chief named Kukutai, made an insulting remark on the subject. When news of his remark reached Ngawaero at Ngaruawahia, she was overcome with shame. This was a serious blow to the prestige of herself and her people, and something had to be done about it. Ngawaero knew that a tribal meeting was to be held at Whatiwhatihoe in some months' time, and she made her plans accordingly. Visiting her relatives at Turata on the northern bank of the Punui river, she told her story and asked them to make a special effort in the bird-snaring season that was about to begin. Word was also sent to her kinsmen in other areas, and all of them laboured throughout the season, snaring great quantities of pigeons, tui and kaka. As part of the preparations for the meeting at Whatiwhatihoe, Ngawaero's people carved a great waka manu, a dug-out wooden vessel for preserved birds. The vessel had handles at the sides, and was so big that when it was full eight men were needed to carry it. The poets of Ngawaero's father's hapu (Ngati Paretekawa) were consulted, and with their assistance Ngawaero composed a special patere for the presentation of the huahua at the meeting. When the great day came, Ngawaero and her party moved slowly forward on to the marae at Whatiwhatihoe. Eight strong men bore on their shoulders the great food vessel, with Ngawaero seated at its front in a specially constructed seat. As they came forward, the centre of attention of the entire gathering. Ngawaero with shining eyes and proud, eloquent gestures sang this song. After the opening lines, singers and dancers in her party behind her joined in the song. Te Patere a Ngawaero E noho ana i te papa tahi o taku koro, Whakarongo rua aku taringa Ki te hiha tangi mai o Kukutai! Me aha koa i te awa whakawhiti ki Puniu, Te pikitia i te pinakitanga ki Turata, ko Te Arawai! E kore, au, e Kahu, e aro iho; He kai tata waiho noa i te huanui. Nga pikitanga ki Te Matau, Kia marama ‘hau te titiro auahi, Kokiri mai ki Mangahana; ko Te Huanui! Ngawaero's Patere I was sitting in the empty courtyard of my master When my two ears heard The biting taunt of Kukutai! Regardless of the river I crossed to Punui, Paying no attention to the gentle slope That leads to Turata, home of Arawai (No Kahu, I will not turn aside— There is food to be had by the roadside). The path goes up to Te Matau, Where I shall see clearly the column of smoke