Uepohatu welcome - 'No wai te motoka'

awatere-freyberg.jpg

The haka pohiri No wai te motoka’ performed here by Hiruharama School welcomed visitors attending events at Uepohatu marae, Ruatoria in 1947. The first verse is a greeting to the Governor General, the second is a lamentation to those who died in the War and the third is in honour of Lt Moananui a Kiwa Ngarimu. Sir Apirana Ngata, who oversaw the gathering, can be heard over the PA system in the background.

The marae hosted events held on the 12th and 13th of September that included cultural competitions with local school children 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. 

A reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion) was also held. 

At the Investiture 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.

Site editors note: Audio starts part way through the haka pohiri.

Transcript

Kaea:  Aue! No wai te motoka e topa mai nga rori
Katoa: Aue! Nohou nei Kawana
Tika mai nei taua, i nawa!
Aue! Aue! Aue ha!
Aue! Aue! Aue ha! (ano)

Kaea: Aue! Homai he mata, kia haehae au,
Katoa: Kia kotia i te kiri
I awhi ai  taua, i nawa!
Aue! Aue! Aue ha!
Aue! Aue! Aue ha! (ano)

Kaea:  Aue! Kikino e Moana ki te ripo(?) i Tunihia!
Katoa: To mate kino e tama,
I wehe ai taua, i nawa!
Aue! Aue! Aue ha!
Aue! Aue! Aue ha! (ano)

 

Reference:

Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: 43116. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.

Image: Porikapa Awatere accompanies Governor-General Sir Bernard Freyberg at the opening of Uepohatu War Memorial Hall on 13 September 1947. 
Alexander Turnbull Library.  Ref: A004827.

Submitter:
Submitted by mbadmin on

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