Kotahitanga
Union

Kotahitanga

Kotahitanga is a pop song on Hinewehi Mohi's 1999 CD Oceania with with an endlessly repetitive Whaka-awe-awe-awe chorus.

It is noted for Hinewehi's wonderful singing, with its poetic lyrics and soaring North African cadences, and also for the inclusion of the I Runga haka. The songs lyrics remind us of the Kotahitangi movement of the1890s, and Te Kotahitanga of the 1960s.

If Maori people start singing this song spontaneously at parties and concerts and political meetings, and if it is sung with ordinary voices and only a guitar backing, and with less repetition and without a drum machine, it could start living in people's hearts, and so evolve from pop song status and become a folk song.

Mana magazine's song poll

In January 2002, some Maori celebrities were asked by Mana magazine to name their favourite waiata. The song which Mana called "Kotahitangi" was number 5 on their combined list.

E Ipo 1,   Poi E 2,   Pokarekare Ana 3,   Whakaria Mai 4,
    Kotahitangi 5,   Akona Te Reo 6,   Te Rina 7,   The Bridge 8.

The word 'kotahitanga' now has a connotation of union amongst different Maori groups who have been marginalized, (Ch'ch 1961) whilst in the past the word 'kotahitangi' had wider connotations of union between Maori and Pakeha (Papawai 1897). It is of interest that those who were polled by Mana magazine chose to describe Hinemohi's song as Kotahitangi.

Hinewehi's CD, Oceania

Oceania is a collaboration by poet and singer Hinewehi Mohi and the former British post-punk band composer, Jaz Coleman. They combine ancient chants with electronic symphonics. The album is dedicated to the struggles that inspire Hinewehi. "Each song is different," she says. "But basically talking about how the Maori have struggled to survive also, so it's a two-pronged way of celebrating the survival of my daughter and then celebrating the survival of the Maori people."

MORE ABOUT OCEANIA     BUY OCEANIA

Hinewehi Mohi
Ngati Kahungunu, Ngai Tuhoe.

Hinewehi was educated at St Joseph's Maori Girls' College and Waikato University, where she gained her BA.

She is an accomplished singer, composer, and documentary film maker, who has been active in the promotion of Maori performing arts and broadcasting for several years. She has produced the presigious Maori TV program Marae, sung the National Anthem, in Maori, at the Rugby World Cup, and has released the album Oceania.

She's is devoted to her daughter Hineraukatauri, named for the guardian of all the Maori instruments.

Hineraukatauri, who has cerebral palsey, travels with her everywhere. "She teaches us so much every day," says Hinewehi."All the very basic things in life that we take for granted are a struggle for her. But she has such a cool attitude to it that you can't help but be inspired by that strength and life."   MORE ABOUT HINEWEHI

The Kotahitangi Movement, 1897

Papawai Pa near present-day Greytown, Wairarapa, was once an important political and cultural centre, famous for the great meetings held there.

Hamuera Mahupuku

In its heyday Papawai Pa was richly decorated. An ornately carved gateway opened onto the marae. A continuous line of carved figures, most of them facing inwards to symbolise peace between Maori and Pakeha, and all formed from a single totara tree, surrounded the area.

In 1897 the Kotahitangi Movement parliament was established at Papawai with Hamuera Tamahau Mahupuku (c.1840-1904) as Premier. Tribal delegations from many parts of the country travelled to Papawai to discuss Government proposals with Richard Seddon and King Mahuta among those present.

The importance of Papawai faded after the death of Mahupuka in 1904.   MORE ABOUT PAPAWAI

Te Kotahitanga, 1961

Linwood Park, October 2000

In the 1950s, many young Maori men from the East Coast of the North Island moved to Christchurch in the South Island to do trade courses. There they experienced cultural shock and racism as well as homesickness. Consequently, in 1961, Te Kotahitanga was set up to bring them back together by teaching them their cultural roots and self worth.

A Kotahitanga Flag

Seen at the Treaty of Waitangi commemorations recently.

A horizontal tricolor, red over white over black, featuring a circular emblem on the central stripe. The emblem contains the word Kotahitanga curved around a central red circle containing two crossed white mere over a vertical taiaha.