Māori Composers of Waiata and Haka

A DigitalNZ Story by National Library Services to Schools

This story provides links to resources about some of Aotearoa New Zealand's Māori composers of waiata and haka.

INTRODUCTION

From early creators of traditional mōteatea (chanted song-poetry) to contemporary composers who draw on introduced musical styles and influences, the Māori world has been home to many important composers. 

Māori composers have created traditional music forms and music drawing on both Māori and European styles and influences. 

Source: Māori composers - ngā kaitito waiata, Te Ara — the Encyclopedia of New Zealand 

TRADITIONS OF COMPOSING

Mōteatea is a centuries-old tradition of chanted song-poetry. Mōteatea were composed for many purposes and reasons, and their composers were great poets. Chiefs and leaders were often composers who used music as an important way to communicate ideas.

Traditional composers sometimes composed chants to call on gods or spirits. Gods and ancestors could express themselves in the world through music and the human voice.

EARLY TRADITIONAL COMPOSERS

  • Mananui Te Heuheu, the paramount chief of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, composed a famous waiata tangi (lament) for his younger brother, Pāpaka Te Naeroa, who died in battle.
  • Te Rangitopeora of Ngāti Toarangatira wrote songs about her many marriages and romances.
  • Mihi-ki-te-kapua was a renowned composer from Ngāti Ruapani and Tūhoe. Her best-known waiata, ‘Taku rākau e’, is still sung by people throughout New Zealand.

Source: Māori composers - ngā kaitito waiata, Te Ara — the Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Image: Māori literature in print

Māori literature in print

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

MANANUI TE HEUHEU TŪKINO II (NGĀTI TŪWHARETOA)

Image: Group portrait of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Ngāti Whātua chiefs

Group portrait of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Ngāti Whātua chiefs

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Whakapapa of Herea, Mananui and Iwikau Te Heuheu, and Te Rohu

Whakapapa of Herea, Mananui and Iwikau Te Heuheu, and Te Rohu

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Te Heuheu Tūkino II, Mananui

Te Heuheu Tūkino II, Mananui

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

ĒNOKA TE PAKARU (TE AITANGA-A-MĀHAKI)

Enoka Te Pakaru

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

TE RONGITOPEORA (NGĀTI TOA) 

Image: Te Rangitopeora by Gottfried Lindauer

Te Rangitopeora by Gottfried Lindauer

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

MIHI-KI-TE-KAPUA (NGĀI TŪHOE)

Image: Mihi-ki-te-kapua

Mihi-ki-te-kapua

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Mihi-ki-te-kapua

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Whakapapa of Mihi-ki-te-kapua

Whakapapa of Mihi-ki-te-kapua

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

TE RANGI PAI/FANNY ROSE HOWIE 

Image: Signed photograph of Fanny Rose Howie, about 1898

Signed photograph of Fanny Rose Howie, about 1898

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Te Rangi Pai recital, 1906

Te Rangi Pai recital, 1906

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

PARAIRE HENARE TOMOANA (NGĀTI KAHUNGUNU)   

Image: NZ invited to sing 'Pokarekare Ana' at home this Saturday

Paraire Henare Tomoana

NZ invited to sing 'Pokarekare Ana' at home this Saturday

Radio New Zealand

Image: Pōkarekare Ana - A Māori Love Song

Paraire Henare Tomoana

Pōkarekare Ana - A Māori Love Song

NZ On Screen

Tomoana, Paraire Hēnare

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

LATER COMPOSERS

From the late 19th century Māori concert parties travelled to Māori villages to perform. The visits aimed to encourage tribal identity and sometimes to raise funds for community projects. These included the revival of East Coast marae (led by Apirana Ngata) and setting up Tūrangawaewae marae in Ngāruawāhia (led by Te Puea Hērangi).

  • Paraire Tomoana composed songs in the new ‘action song’ style, which often drew on European melodies. His songs include the famous ‘Pōkarekare ana’.
  • Tuini Ngāwai was an important East Coast composer who wrote many songs, including ‘Arohaina mai e te Kīngi nui’, which became an unofficial anthem for the Māori Battalion during the Second World War.
  • Ngoi Pēwhairangi’s songs included ‘E ipo’, made famous by Prince Tui Teka, and ‘Poi e’, a hit for the Pātea Māori Club.
  • Hirini Melbourne composed many songs for schools, including ‘Pūrea nei’ and ‘Tihore mai’. He played an important part in reviving the use of taonga puoro (traditional musical instruments).
  • Gillian Karawe Whitehead trained in the European classical music tradition and later began using taonga puoro and the Māori language in her music.

 Source: Māori composers - ngā kaitito waiata,  Te Ara — the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.    

Image: Waiata for Victoria Cross winner at Ruatoria, 1943

Waiata for Victoria Cross winner at Ruatoria, 1943

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

PUHIWAHINE (NGĀTI TŪWHARETOA) 

Image: Puhiwahine

Puhiwahine

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Puhiwahine Te Rangi-hirawea, Rihi

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

TUINI NGĀWAI (NGĀTI POROU)

Image: Ngāti Porou songwriter of genius, Tuini Ngāwai

Ngāti Porou songwriter of genius, Tuini Ngāwai

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Tuini Ngāwai

Tuini Ngāwai

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Tuini Ngāwai and Ngoi Pēwhairangi, 1943

Tuini Ngāwai and Ngoi Pēwhairangi, 1943

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

NGOI PĒWHAIRANGI (NGĀTI POROU)

Image: Whakapapa of Tuini Moetū Haangū Ngāwai and Ngoi Pēwhairangi

Whakapapa of Tuini Moetū Haangū Ngāwai and Ngoi Pēwhairangi

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Ngoi Pēwhairangi, 'Whakarongo'

Ngoi Pēwhairangi, 'Whakarongo'

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Dalvanius

Dalvanius

NZ On Screen

SIR APIRANA NGATA (NGĀTI POROU)

KOHINE TE WHAKARUA PONIKA (NGĀI TŪHOE)

Image: Ka Haku Au - A Poet's Lament

Kohine Whakarua Ponika

Ka Haku Au - A Poet's Lament

NZ On Screen

KĪNGI TĀHIWI (NGĀTI RAUKAWA)

Image: Kīngi Te Ahoaho Tāhiwi, about 1935

Kīngi Te Ahoaho Tāhiwi, about 1935

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: George Nepia and Kingi Te Ahoaho Tahiwi

George Nepia and Kingi Te Ahoaho Tahiwi

Alexander Turnbull Library

HIRINI MELBOURNE (NGĀI TŪHOE)

Image: Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns

Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Hirini Melbourne

Hirini Melbourne

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

NGĀPŌ WEHI (NGĀI TŪHOE, TE WHAKATŌHEA, NGĀPUHI, TE WHĀNAU A APANUI, NGĀTI KAHU) AND PIMIA WEHI  

Dr Ngapo Bub Wehi

Leading composer honoured

Radio New Zealand

TĪMOTI KĀRETU (NGĀI TŪHOE, NGĀTI KAHUNGUNU) 

SIR KĪNGI IHAKA (TE AUPŌURI)

SIR DEREK LARDELLI (NGĀTI POROU, RONGOWHAKAATA, NGĀTI KONOHI, NGĀTI KAIPOHO)    

KINGI KIRIONA (TAINUI)

WETINI MĪTAI-NGĀTAI (TE ARAWA)

This story was curated and compiled by Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa | National Library of New Zealand, Services to Schools staff, November 2020.