Paraire Tomoana was a prolific writer of action songs. This was one of his first compositions, the theme song at a concert held in the Wellington Town Hall in September 1915, to farewell the Second Maori Contingent. It became a favourite during World War I.
This is the shorter present-day version, with a literal translation.
| I
runga o ngā puke Ka pā mai toa reo; Hau maiangi hei kawe mai. He reo aroha pātai ana mai. "He aha tau e, pirangi nei?" Kia awhi kau atu Ki tō tinana i ngaro, E ngaro nei i au i ēnei ra Ko tōu aroha, Ko tōku aroha, Ka mutu pea! Aue! Te tau! |
Up
on the hills |
