NEW  ZEALAND
FOLK * SONG

Nga Whare Pa
(Powhiritia)
Sir Apirana Ngata 1918

Maori Songs - Kiwi Songs - Home

A welcome home to the survivors from the WW1 battles of Gallipoli and France.
Of the 2200 Maori who had gone to war, 300 had died and 700 were wounded.

V1.
Powhiritia a nga morehu
Te iwi, tangihia
Te mamae e, me te pouri nui
Tenei ra kua mahea

Ch.
  Hoki mai ra!
  Hoki mai ra ki te kaianga
  E tatari atu nei ki a koutou
  Nga tau roa i ngaro atu ai. E aroha
  e ngau kino nei i ahau

V2.
Nga whare pa tenei huakina
Te iwi kia koa
Kua hoki mai nga tamariki toa
Ki te ao ora

 


Welcome home the survivors.
All of you who have been mourning
The inward grief, and great mourning
today is cleared away.


  Welcome home!
  Welcome back to the village
  that has been waiting for you.
  Long years you have been gone. Sorrow
  has gnawed within me.


Open wide the doors of our homes
Everybody rejoice
The brave boys have returned
to the world of (normal) life.

 

Compare this 1918 song with that used at a kawe mate. (From "Hui" by Anne Salmond, p 189)

Kia rite!
Nga whare pa, tena huakina
Te iwi tangahia
 Te mamae nei, a te pouri nui
Tenei ra tama ma
Aue, hoki mai ra!
Hoki mai ra ki te kaianga
E tatari atu nei ki a koutou
Nga tau roa
i ngaro atu ai. Te aroha
E ngau kino nei i ahau

         

Get ready!
Open wide the meeting-houses
For those who mourn
The great pain we feel
Is for you our sons
Alas, come back
Return home
 We have waited for you
Through the long years 
you were away. Sorrow
aches within me

Also compare this 1918 song with the 1945 song Hoki Mai e Tama Ma written to welcome home the Ngati Porou boys who survived WW2.
  1. Tomo mai e tama mā ki roto, ki roto
    I ngā ringa e tuwhera atu nei,
    Ki ngā mōrehu o te Kiwi e,
    Ki ngā Tama Toa o tēnei riri nui.

    Chorus:
        Hoki mai, hoki mai ki te wā kāinga,
        Kua tutuki te tāmanako,
        Kei te kapakapa mai te Haki, te Haki
        O Ingarangi i runga o Tiamana e.
         
  1. Enter boys into, into
    these arms outstretched.
    To the survivors of the Kiwis (NZ Army),
    to the brave sons of this great war


        Welcome, welcome home
        Our wish has been fulfilled
        as fluttering over there is the flag, the flag
        of England over Germany


Other Maori Songs - Main Song List - Home


Published on the web 1 Sept, 2008