Uepohatu concert: Haere mai ra

Song ‘Haere mai ra’ performed by the local Waiapu group at Uepohatu in 1947.

The events held at Uepohatu on the 12th and 13th of September included cultural competitions with local school children, a reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion), a concert and the opening of the Uepohatu War Memorial Hall.  The hall was built to commemorate East Coast soldiers who died during the two World Wars.

At an investiture ceremony held on the second day, seventeen decorations were presented to servicemen and women who had served abroad and on the home front.

The gathering was an important one, attended by thousands including the Prime Minister Peter Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition Sidney Holland and other members of Parliament.  Sir Bernard Freyberg, the Governor General opened the hall and unveiled two memorial tablets inside.

Transcription

(Recording begins part way through Kaea part)

Kaea: Haere mai ra

Torona kei waho!

Katoa: Haere haere mai ra

E nga hapu katoa

Ki roto o Waiapu

Ki te Karauna a Koro e

Ka hutia aku mihi ki waho ia e

Nga morehu a te mate

Kia ora koutou haere mai!

Huia mai nga whakaaro

Me te aroha e

Nau mai e te Kawana

Me nga Upoko Ariki e

Tena Uepohatu

Pohiritia ra

Nga iwi, whanaunga hoki

Ki te marae

Haere mai! Hi!