Pokarekare Ana

Home Maps Trips Maori Author Sources Contents

 

Pōkarekare Ana

Rippling are the waters...

images/tik-poka.gifThis is one of the most famous of Māori songs.

History

It tells of Paraire Tomoana's courtship of Kuini Raerena.

It is believed to have been arranged by P. H. Tomoana & his concert party in 1917.

Hear It...

If you have speakers set up on your computer, you can listen to the melody of Pokarekare Ana right now, by clicking here (1K MIDI File).

Alternatively you can hear a clip of it being sung, by clicking here (115K MP3 File, will take a little longer to download and play).

Lyrics

Here are the lyrics:

Māori English
Pōkarekare ana
ngā wai o Waiapu,
Whiti atu koe hine
marino ana e.

E hine e
hoki mai ra,
Ka mate ahau
I te aroha e.

Tuhituhi raku reta
tuku atu taku rīngi,
Kia kite tō iwi
raru raru ana e.

E hine e
hoki mai ra,
Ka mate ahau
I te aroha e.

Whati whati taku pene
ka pau aku pepa,
Ko taku aroha
mau tonu ana e.

E hine e
hoki mai ra,
Ka mate ahau
I te aroha e.

E kore te aroha
e maroke i te rā,
Mākūkū tonu i
aku roimata e.

E hine e
hoki mai ra,
Ka mate ahau
I te aroha e.

 Rippling are
the waters of Waiapu,
cross over girl
'tis calm.

Oh girl
return here (to me),
For I shall die
because of love (for you).

I have written my letter
I have sent my ring,
So that your people can see
(that I am) troubled.

Oh girl
return here (to me),
For I shall die
because of love (for you).

My pen is shattered,
I have no more paper,
(But) my love
is still steadfast.

Oh girl
return here (to me),
For I shall die
because of love (for you).

(My) love will never
be dried by the sun,
It will be forever moistened
by my tears.

Oh girl
return here (to me),
For I shall die
because of love (for you).

Notes

  1. The 4/4 timing is modern. It was originally sung in 3/4 time.

  2. ngā wai o Wai-apu is historically correct.
    ngis a popular variation.
    It flows better, and the 'r' and 'o' sounds are pleasant. 

  3. a-ro-ha e is pronounced "are RAW ha AIR", not "a ROW ha EH". 

  4. Whati whati taku pene = shattered my pen.
    Kua whati taku pene = broken, my pen has been
    The latter being an alternative.

Often these days, only the first verse and the chorus seems to get sung, perhaps several times over, with added harmonising in each repetition.

Copyright Notice

Materials on this page have been extracted from material researched by John Archer on the Pokarekare Ana page of the New Zealand Folksong website. Many thanks to him for his most valuable work.

For superb information about New Zealand folk songs, take a look at John's site: New Zealand Folk Song. 
For further details about Pokarekare Ana, you can go directly to his Pokarekare Ana page by clicking here.

 

Back Home Up Next

[ Back ] [ Home ] [ Up ] [ Next ] [ Maps ] [ Trips ] [ Maori ] [ Author ] [ Sources ] [ Contents ]

 

Need help with a Māori word?
Click here to have open a list of common Māori terms; or
Click here to open the English-Māori Translator at Otago University.

 

This page last updated 06/07/2003 02:11:44 AM

 

All materials on this site © J.M.Wilson 2001-3, unless otherwise stated.

Any comments? Send me an e-mail.