Tūtira mai ngā iwi: it’s time we put the waiata of Waitangi eve under a lens.
What’s in a waiata? That which we call a banger, by any other ingoa would sound just as good. Unless it’s something like ‘Te Aroha’ – at that point, you need to expand your song book.
One of the best things about attending a kaupapa Māori event – whether it be Matariki, Te Matatini, or anything in between – is hearing a damn good waiata. On the treaty grounds during Waitangi week, our politicians like to get involved too, typically pulling out the classic crowd pleasers learnt in primary school, or the waiata frequently sung at state services. So, what did our parliamentarians sing this Waitangi eve, for what reason, and could they have done better?
‘Ngā Whakamoemiti’
A pretty standard waiata which gets the job done. Can’t blame Māori development minister Tama Potaka for going with this one after being the first speaker on the government side of the pā. This tune is a mihi, usually whipped out by manuhiri as a form of giving thanks, or at church service. And it’s a major improvement on Te Pāti National’s rendition of ‘Te Aroha’ at last year’s Waitangi celebrations.
Shout out to Potaka’s wife, Ariana Paul, for jumping in and saving the likes of prime minister Christopher Luxon from having to carry something akin to a harmony. But at least finance minister Nicola Willis gave it a bit of a go.
‘Ko te Tiriti’
Trust the Green Party to whip out a waiata that reminds us why we’re all actually here. And props to Greens MP Hūhana Lyndon for leading a hearty charge on this one. Admittedly, The Spinoff has limited reference to the origins of this waiata, but it does have a recommendation for next year’s choice for the Greens to keep on theme: Hirini Melbourne’s ‘Waitangi te Tiriti’.
‘E Ngaki’
Labour pulled this out following a speech by soon-to-be-gone Labour MP Peeni Henare. It’s a Ngāti Hine waiata, which was actually penned by Henare’s brother Tatai Henare, a well-respected singer up north. The parliamentary Henare also has a pretty nice voice, too — especially at karaoke.
There was a beautiful moment while the song was sung on the pā, with the haukainga of Te Whare Rūnanga attempting to bring Henare onto their side, as a form of homecoming. Henare politely declined, but the moment was moving all the same. 10/10, no notes, ka pai.
‘Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi’
An undeniable classic, but at what cost? Sure, everyone joined in when New Zealand First whipped this banger out on the marae, but this reporter’s first thought upon hearing deputy leader Shane Jones cry a mighty “tūtira mai …” was, goddamn, not this again.
But how did this waiata actually become so popular? Well, it was composed back in 1950 by Canon Wī Te Tau Huata, an Anglican priest and chaplain to the 28th Māori battalion and former kuini Te Atairangikāhu, while he drove along Lake Tūtira. Huata shared the waiata in churches, and by the 1960s, it was picked up by the Ministry of Education and spread throughout schools, but without Huata’s consent or credit. In 2017, his daughter Ngatai Huata let us know we’ve all been singing it wrong for over 50 years.
Despite this, the song’s message of unity endures, and these days, you can usually hear it sung at sporting events, or when Harry Styles comes to town. It’s an iconic anthem, but maybe it’s time to find another waiata to make famous.
The Spinoff’s recommendation for NZ First’s waiata of choice next year? Perhaps the party could pick up a copy of Sir Apirana Ngata’s Ngā Mōteatea and dive into some of the lesser known classics (the Apirana Ngata of it all will definitely get the Winston Peters stamp of approval). Or surely Jones has a cousin with a solid Māori strum and some freestyles up his sleeve.
‘He Honore’
You probably remember this one from church, your granddad (most likely both), and now the Act Party. It’s got an iconic melody many would recognise, and its roots are in the ringatū church. It was composed by Piwai Te Morehu Tuhua, a legendary Ngāi Tūhoe musician, but others have tried to lay claim to its origins. At one point, Hannah Tamaki even said her husband Brian – yes, that one – was the true composer of the waiata.
The Spinoff would love to know which Act Party staffer gets tasked with having to choose waiata for their MPs to sing, and whether they chose this one after Googling “best easy formal maori song”. Children’s minister Karen Chhour really carried this one, while Act Party leader David Seymour refrained from singing a single note. Kinda weird of him, but as a son of the north, deputy prime minister and just generally because he’s David Seymour, maybe he’s just used to doing whatever he likes.
Could Act have tried harder to find something more niche to sing? In a way, maybe ‘He Honore’ is the most Libertarian waiata around, given its emphasis on order and the fact you often hear it in state setting. But perhaps Tūhoe would disagree.
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