In 1943 the reconstructed centennial house Tama te Kapua was opened at Ōhinemutu, Rotorua. The gathering was attended by many tribes and Reinforcements to the Māori Battalion which had been trained at Ōhaewai and other places in the North Auckland area was strongly represented at the opening ceremony. The Battalion (who were located in the Middle East at the time) is also remembered in the speeches given on the day. Sir Apirana Ngata officiated over the proceedings.
This recording of the pōhiri includes karanga, haka, peruperu and chants.
Site editor note: This recording has not been edited. It includes many gaps where there is no talking only sounds from the gathering. This symbol (?) indicates the words are missing or unclear. Where text is translated it appears in italics and in circular ( ) brackets. Contextual text (i.e. not part of the soundfile) appears in square [ ] brackets.
Transcript
Recording misses the beginning of the peruperu [Uhi, uhi mai te waero! E ko roto ko]
Group: ...taku puta
He puta aha te puta
He puta nui te puta
E rua nei ko te puta
Ha hei!
Leader: Whiti whiti …
[karanga heard in background]
Group: Hei
Leader: Tenei tau taua(?)
Leader: Uhi, uhi mai te waero!
Group: E ko roto ko taku puta
He puta aha te puta
He puta nui te puta
E rua nei ko te puta
Ha hei ha
Leader: A whiti whiti…
Group: Hei!
Leader: A, hei runga, hei raro
Group: Hi ha
Leader:Aa, koia ano koia ano (It is quite so, it is quite so)[1]
Group: Aa koia ano he peruperu (The peruperu is quite so - )
Ina hoki te taiaroa (When a captive man)
Whakatirohia mai ki te whana (Is flaunted befre the clansmen)
A ha parerewha, parerewha (His eyes are wide open, wide open)
Leader: A kumekumea (Pull hither!) [2]
Group: A totoia (Drag hither)
Leader: A kumekumea (Pull hither!)
Group: A totoia (Drag hither!)
Leader: Aue, e to ra (Drag)
Group: Ki te tahataha e (to the steep bank)
Leader: Aue, e to ra (Drag)
Group: Ki te taparere (to the cliff edge)
Nga kokako (the crows)
huataratara (with serrated plumes)
Ki Waikurekure ha (to Waikurekure, yes)
Aa ki Waikurekure ha, (Ah, to Waikurekure, yes)
Aa ki Waikurekure ha,
Aa ki Waikurekure ha,
Aa ki Waikurekure ha,
Aa ki Waikurekure ha
Leader: Aa whiti whiti
Group: Hai
Leader: Tena i hurihia
Leader: Aa kia kutia (Crush the enemy) [3]
Group: Au, au (In this way!)
Leader: Aha kia wherahia (Open out your ranks)
Group: Au au
Kia rere atu te kohuru (Jump aside, slayer)
ki tahaki (jump aside)
titiro mai ai (behold the damage you have done)
A ha, a ha, aue
Karanga: …(?) ki te Papaiouru e…
Apirana Ngata: Koutou te hunga wahine ahua nukunuku atu no te mea whakakiia te…
[Karanga continues in the background]
Apirana: Aa toia mai
Group: te waka
Apirana: Ki te urunga
Group: te waka
Leader: Ki te moenga
Group: te waka
Ki te takotoranga i takoto ai te waka
[Haka in the background]
Leader: A ha Te Arawa e
Group: E
Leader: A ha Te Arawa e
Group: E
Ko te whakaariki ('Tis the invading army) [4]
Ko te whakaariki ('Tis the invading army)
Tukua mai ki a piri, tukua mai ki a tata (Let it come near, let it come close)
Kia eke mai, ki runga ki te paepae poto a Houmaitawhiti! (Let it reach the very threshold of Houmaitawhiti!)
Leader: Toia mai
Group: te waka
Leader: Ki te urunga
Group: te waka
Leader: Ki te moenga
Group: te waka
Ki te takotoranga i takoto ai te waka
[Pohiri ends]
Apirana: Whakatangihia mai te pere o te wharekarakia. Whakatangihia te pere o te wharekarakia
Waiata – Maori Battalion [faintly in background & gradually louder]
Maori Battalion march to Victory
Maori Battalion staunch and true
Maori Battalion march to glory
Take the honour of the people with you
We will march, march, march to the enemy
And we’ll fight right to the end
For God for King and for country, AUE
Ake ake kia kaha e.
Unknown voice: Could the operator put the other microphone on please?
Apirana: Te karakia mo a tatau tamariki i mate ki te pakanga.
Bishop Bennett, kei whea te pihopa…kei hea te pihopa.
Na kua mohio koutou Te Arawa ne, kiia atu ai kia ata noho mai koutou ki kora ra. Kua tau wa tatau tamariki hoia ki waho o te marae.
Ko Peneti [Bennett] tenei e karangatia nei – ko Peneti...
Endnotes
[1] Translation and text for this peruperu taken from Wikiriwhi, H. te M, ‘The Queen in Rotorua: Part II’, Te Ao Hou, No. 15, July 1956, pp 12- 15
[2] Translation for this chant taken from Hinemoa Ruataupare Awatere, Awatere: A soldier's story, Huia: Wellington, 2003, p.246
[3] Translation for this peruperu taken from Hinemoa Ruataupare Awatere, Awatere: A soldier's story, Huia: Wellington, 2003, pp 245-246
[4] Translation for this haka taken from Hinemoa Ruataupare Awatere, Awatere: A soldier's story, Huia: Wellington, 2003, p.240
Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: 43110. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.
Image
Members of the Maori Battalion performing a haka at the opening of the meeting house Tamatekapua, at Ohinemutu. Pascoe, John Dobree, 1908-1972 :Photographic albums, prints and negatives. Ref: 1/4-000247-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22491177
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