Uepohatu opening: Song 'Taku uma'

Performance of the song ‘He aha kei taku uma’ at Uepohatu marae in 1947.  The song ends with with lines from the East Coast haka 'Ruaumoko'.

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.

Transcript

He aha kei taku uma
Pakikini nei?
He aroha ranei?
He aha ranei?

Haere mai ra
Ki ahau nei ra
Te aroha tino nui
Haere mai

Kaea:Tahi, rua, toru, wha
Katoa: Kore au e noho
Hoatu taku ringa
Kei huri ke koe
Whakakaitoa i muri

Haere mai ra
Ki ahau nei ra
Te aroha tino nui
Haere mai

Kaea: Tahi, rua, toru, wha
Katoa:He aha kei taku uma
Pakikini nei?
He aroha ranei?
He aha ranei?

Haere mai ra
Ki ahau nei ra
Te aroha tino nui
Haere mai

Kaea: Tahi, rua, toru, wha
Katoa: Titiro atu au
Ka huri ke koe
Kei roto i a koe
Pirangi mai ana

Haere mai ra
Ki ahau nei ra
Te aroha tino nui
Haere mai
Aue hi

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