'Apirana e' sung by members of the Tuhoe tribe who attended the opening of Tama te Kapua in 1943. The song acknowledges Ngata (father of the Battalion) and the efforts of the soldiers fighting in Greece and Egypt. Many tribes attended along with Reinforcements of the 28th Maori Battalion.
Transcript
Apirana Ngata giving instructions: Whakahuatia, to muri whakapaua a koutou mahi.
Ko wau pea… tena mahia mai.
Leader: Ringa i whiua!
Tahi, rua, toru, wha
Group: Apirana e, e nga iwi e
Whakarongo ra, te reo karanga
Haere mai, haere mai e hoa ma
Ki runga o Rotorua e
Takahia mai ra, e tama ma
Te marae o tipuna e
Kei a ngana o hoa kei Ihipa
Runga o Kariki aue, whawhai ana e
To taiaha e tama kia Tiamana
Taukuri matau e – hi!
Repeat
Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.
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