Ngarimu VC investiture, part 25 - Haka: Kura Tiwaka Taua

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This ceremonial haka is called Kura Tiwaka Taua, a haka taparahi of the East Coast people.  It was composed in pre-European times. 

An explanation and translation can be found here.

(Site editors note: Some static throughout the recording)

Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture

The Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture Meeting and Reception to His Excellency the Governor General, 6 October 1943. 

On 4 June 1943 news was broadcast world-wide that 2/Lt Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu had been awarded the Victoria Cross for his role in the attack on Point 209 at Tebaga Gap, Tunisia. It was the sixth VC to be awarded to a New Zealander in the war, and the first to a Maori soldier.

The public investiture ceremony where the Governor-General presented the award to Mr & Mrs Hamuera Ngarimu was held at Whakarua Park in Ruatoria, Ngarimu’s home town. At the time it was one of the largest and most fully documented Māori gatherings ever held.[1]  Despite the rain and mud, 7000 people attended the event, including the Prime Minister and other parliamentarians, Battalion members on furlough, Home Guardsmen and 1300 schoolchildren, who came from all parts of the country. Three hundred performers had been brought together from the Gisborne district alone. Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Ngāti Porou, led by Sir Apirana Ngata hosted the event that featured five hours of entertainment.  Members of the National Film Unit, the official Government photographer - John Pascoe, and the press documented the event. Cameramen from the US Marine Corps also headed to Ruatoria to record the event.  Read more about the event here.

There were two booklets printed for the occassion:
1) Souvenir of the Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture Meeting (NSP)
2) Supplement to the Souvenir Programme (SSP)


Transcript

Sir AT Ngata introduction: Ngarimu recording 7B.  This is the men’s ceremonial Haka called Kura Tiwaka Taua. Composed in pre European days, this is one of the classic ceremonial haka taparahi of the East Coast people. The rendering is in the Souvenir programme published in connection with the Ngarimu VC investiture meeting at Ruatoria four years ago and the English version also appears there. And listeners are recommended to acquire the little booklet. In doing so, they will be helping the Ngarimu scholarship fund and also receiving some edification themselves.

Sir AT Ngata (at gathering): Mahia mai ta tatau haka Kuratiwaka Taua. This contains the tukiwaka of the Takitumu Canoe halfway down the item, beginning over the page that is the song of the Takitimu canoe on page 30.  Ko pai kua whiti te ra inaianei. Right ‘o Jim[1] you want to use those eyes.

Kaea[2]: Arara kia whakangahoki au i ahau!
Katoa: Hi aue, hi!

Sir AT Ngata: Hea hea Moni. Hautia to waka e Moni.

Whakaara

Kaea: Ma konei ake au!
Katoa: Titaha ake ai, hai!
Kaea:  Me kore e tutaki!
Katoa: He pupu karikawa, he pupu harerorero hi!
Kaea:  E katikoki!
Katoa: E ka tahuri!
Kaea: E Katikoki!
Katoa: E  ka tahuri!  Ka tahuri ra Nui Tireni, i aue! Au, au ,aue!

Sir AT Ngata: Nearly As Good as us so far.  Crowd laughter.

Taparahi

Kaea:  E ringaringa i torona titaha!
Papa te whatitiri, hikohiko te uira,
I kanapu ki te rangi, i whetuki i raro ra,
Ru ana te whenua, e!

Katoa: E, i aha tera e! Ko te werohanga
A Porourangi i te Ika a Maui
E takoto nei! A ha ha!
Kia anga tiraha ra to puku ki runga ra!
A ha ha! Kia eke mai to iwi ki runga ki
To tuatua werowero ai e ha! I aue, taukuri, e!

Kaea:  Tena ra, Te Moananui e tu ake ki runga
Ki te hautu i ohou waka, i a Horouta,
Takitimu e takoto nei!

Katoa: A ha ha!

Kaea:  Ara! He tia, he tia, he tia!
Ara! He ranga, he ranga, he ranga!
Whakarere iho ana te kakau o te hoe ko

Katoa: Maninitua! Ko Maniniaro!
Tangi te kura i tangi wiwini,
Tangi te kura i tangi wawana!

Kaea:  Tera te haeata takiri ana mai
I runga o Hikurangi!

Katoa: Ara! Whaiuru, whaiuru, whaiuru!
Ara! Whaiato, whaiato, whaiato!
Arara tini! Arara tini! Ara ri!

Kaea:  A ko tena, tena!

Katoa: A ko tena, tena!
Ehara ko te wai o to waha, ko te wai o to waha!
Hei koti, hei koti, hei koti!
Kaea:  Ka rere! I ka rere!

Katoa: Te rere I te waka, kutangitangi, kutangitangi!
E kura tiwaka taua! E kura tiwaka taua!
E kura wawawa wai! E kura wawawa wai!

Tuku

Kaea:  E Ko komako! Ko komako!
Katoa:  Ko te hautapu e rite ki te kai na Matariki. Tapareireia koi tapa! Tapa konunua koiana tukua! I aue hi!

Reference

[1] Probably Jim Leach of Whangara

[2] Although Moni was from Reporua he was working at Whangara. 

Reference:

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

Submitter:
Submitted by mbadmin on

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