Henare Te Owai
(Ngati Porou) composed this waiata at Hiruharama marae, near Ruatoria, after
the death in 1933 of Pine Tamahori.
Pine, an outstanding Maori Anglican minister, had been asked by Apirana
Ngata to teach the haka 'Ruaumoko' for the welcoming of the Governor General
Bledisloe at Waitangi in 1934.
Pineamine (Pine) Tamahori McLeod was born in about 1885. He was educated
at Te Aute College and Te Rau Kahikatea theological college Gisborne, married
in 1910 to Mereana Korimete and from 1916 to 1933 was pastor of Hikurangi
Maori pastorate diocese.
Pine's grandson is Gisborne accountant and Business Roundtable chairman Rob McLeod.
'Ma Wai Ra' on record
|
 |
And an older Ma Wai Ra, by Puhiwahine, 1851
| Ma wai ra
taku mate E huti ake ki runga? Ma te Atua Nui, Maana i runga nei. No te kore ano; Te kore-te-whiwhia, Te kore-te-rawea - Na wai hoki te kore?
E whitu nga tau
E au kai tu, |
Who
will it be to raise I
now eat on my feet, |
Seven years. The period of sporadic fighting in various parts of the country, following Hone Heke's War in the north.
Patu. A short flat weapon for hand to hand fighting. One made of whale bone was called a patu-paraoa.
Manuka. The harbour on the western side of the Tamaki isthmus, where the city of Auckland now stands. Sometimes called Manukau. At the time the only fighting on a large scale was that of Hone Heke, hence the expression ³beyond Manuka.²
Spider's wind. Hau o pungawere. Before a hurricane, or stormy weather the spider will disappear into holes and crevices. Hurricanes, on that account, are called 'spider's wind.¹
I now eat on my feet. The manner of eating of one who apprehends danger.
Te Poihipi. One of Puhiwahine's former lovers. It is said he endeavoured to persuade the people of Kawhia to go north and join in Hone Heke's War.
The one bespoken. This is a reference to her broken romance with Te Poihipi. His tribe, Ngati-Karetoto, had opposed his marriage to Puhiwahine because he was already be-spoken as a husband for a young woman of his own tribe.
The food-gathering tribe. A captious expression by the poetess, inspired by the recollection of her broken romance.
Puhiwahine
Ngati Tuwharetoa poetess. Puhiwahine was born about 1816 near Petania pa. Her father was Rawiri Te Rangihirawea, who was a close relative of Te Heuheu Horonuku's wife, and her mother was Hinekiore, a famous song leader and a high priestess of the bird cult.
Puhiwahine learnt her people's traditions and songs and dances of from her mother, and at an early age became an accomplished performer at Ngati Tuwharetoa gatherings. She grew up into an attractive and fascinating young woman whose artistry, wit and charm captivated everybody. Her accomplishments made her a very popular member of the tribe, and she travelled extensively with her Taupo people on visits to other tribes. Some of her love songs and lullabies enjoyed wide popularity.
During these travels she captured the hearts of many notable chiefs, both married and unmarried. Puhiwahine remained fancy free until she accompanied a party of her Taupo people into the Waipa valley in the foothills of the Rangitoto ranges. At Araikotore, Puhiwahine met Hauauru, a young Maniapoto chief. Puhiwahine fell violently in love with him, but because he was already married, her two brothers would not agree to a marriage that would have made her a secondary wife for Hauauru.
In the early 1840s, at Poaru, near Taupo, Puhiwahine married Johann von Goethe (c. 180993), a German immigrant. He was an innkeeper at Wanganui. After her marriage Puhiwahine lived at Wanganui and later at Gotty's farm in the Rangitikei district. She died at Ongarue on 18 February 1906 leaving two sons.
Her songs and poetry, for which she is remembered, follow traditional Maori forms and rhythms and abound with traditional imagery. Her plaintive He Waiata Aroha mo Te Mahuta Te Toko is still sung as a farewell at tribal gatherings.
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