NEW ZEALAND *WA I ATA**	Pūrerehua Dr. Hirini Melbourne 1975

Purerehua on record

Te Kururoa CD
Hirini Melbourne,
also featuring Kuini Beattie and Tama Renata

A collection of Hirini's most famous songs as well as some great new material.
1. Nga Tamariki o te Kohu
2. Te Kopere
3. Tihore Mai te Rangi
4. Purea Nei
5. Mai i Te Kakano
6. Te Kihikihi te Tuturiwhati
7. Titiwai
8. Weta
9. Purerehua
10. Te Rere a te Tirairaka
You can get the CD from
Kia Ata Mai Educational Trust
Po Box 166, Ngaruawahia
Email: Cath Rau

Dr. Hirini Melbourne
Tühoe, Kahungunu.
Composer, university dean.

Hirini Melbourne says he wrote this song for his daughter "...who I hope one day will grow up to be a beautiful free butterfly." Professor Melbourne has devoted his life to promoting Maori language, culture and music. He began writing songs and stories to fit with the urban experience of Maori of his generation . . .MORE

String-game origins

Pürerehua was a simple "whai" or string-figure-making game for beginners. This waiata was sung while making it.

Pürerehua
rere runga e
Papaki kau ana
Rere runga e butterfly
carried on the wind
fluttering along
on the wind"

Whakaraka, Auckland Museum

Use a piece of fishing cord about 1.8 metres long and tie it in a loop.
1. Pick up one short section of the string loop on both thumbs without twisting it. Extend hands apart.

2. Now, using your little fingers, pick up the far thumb string on the fingernail side of the little fingers.

Then just spread your hands and figers apart to tighten the string (Position 1)

3. Use your right forefinger to move left and pick up the left palm string on the back of the forefinger. Tighten the strings.

4. The left forefinger then moves right, goes through the right forefinger noose, and picks up the right palm string.

5. Tighten the strings again.
6. Release the thumb strings. Tighten the other strings once more.
Here is your butterfly. Move your index fingers in and out to make it flutter.

Other Whai

Maori string games, whai, date back to pre-European times. They are similar to string games played around the world.
Whai was played by both male and female of all ages, although traditionally women were the more proficient.
Whai gave excellent training for the skills needed in activities like weaving, net-making, and thatching.
Waiata (or karakia) were sung (or chanted) to make it easier to remember the pattern-making sequences.
It is said that whai was passed down by Maui. Whai patterns often represented figures from mythology, and so they acted as aids for remembering and illustrating mythological stories.
More Maori string games are described, very clearly and well, in Chapter 8 of Alan Armstrong, "Maori Games and Hakas," AH & AW Reed, (1964). This old book is a real taonga. I found it in the Whanganui District library stackroom. Try your local library, or the National Library in Wellington could photocopy a few pages for you, or you could get it on interloan.
More international string games for kids are at Busy Bee

Bullroarer

Pürerehua (or purorohu) is also the name given to pointed oval blades attached to a cord, which was swung around the head, making a haunting call. Similar to the smaller toy "bull-roarers" of English children, these were not toys.
Pürerehua is one example of taonga puoru, the mystical sounding wind instruments of the old Maori people. The emotions of love, passion and grief are woven together in taonga puoru: the sound of the breath of wind is also the sound of the breath of life.
Traditionally pürerehua were made of hard wood like matai, or whale bone, or of pounamu stone. The plaited cord was made of muka. It whirring roar warned hearers -

Kia hiwara
kia mataara
kia tupato Be alert
be prepared
be careful

Kiwi Songs - Maori Songs - Home

Page published on web Sept 1st 2002.

Chorus Pürerehua rere runga hau Papaki parirau Rere runga hau (Ka piki, ka piki Runga rawa e Papaki parirau rere runga hau.) x 2	Butterfly carried on the wind. Fluttering its wings on the wind Up and up Way up high Fluttering its wings on the wind
Ka tau, ka tau Runga püäwai Ka whänauhua A pürerehua. Katahi, ka rua Ka toru, ka wha Ka rü, ka rë Ka puta e whä whë Ka kai, ka kai Ka pau ngä rau Ka huri ngä whë Hei tüngoungou Ka pata ki waho He üpoko nui He waewae roa He parikau pakipaki Rü rü rü rü ru ru rë	It lands On a flower To lay its eggs, this butterfly. One, two, Three, four: They shake and quiver, Out pops four caterpillars They eat and eat, Every leaf consumed. The caterpillars Become pupae. Out pops A head, A long bandy leg, Fluttering wings, Flitter, flutter, flap.
Chorus Pürerehua rere runga hau Papaki parirau Rere runga hau Rere runga hau Papaki parirau Rere runga hau Pürerehu--a Rere runga hau Pürerehu---a	Butterfly carried on the wind Fluttering its wings carried on the wind carried on the wind Fluttering its wings carried on the wind Butterfly . . . carried on the wind Butterfly . . .

Use a piece of fishing cord about 1.8 metres long and tie it in a loop. 1. Pick up one short section of the string loop on both thumbs without twisting it. Extend hands apart.
2. Now, using your little fingers, pick up the far thumb string on the fingernail side of the little fingers. Then just spread your hands and figers apart to tighten the string (Position 1)
3. Use your right forefinger to move left and pick up the left palm string on the back of the forefinger. Tighten the strings.
4. The left forefinger then moves right, goes through the right forefinger noose, and picks up the right palm string.
5. Tighten the strings again.
6. Release the thumb strings. Tighten the other strings once more. Here is your butterfly. Move your index fingers in and out to make it flutter.

Purerehua on record

Dr. Hirini Melbourne Tühoe, Kahungunu. Composer, university dean.

String-game origins

Other Whai

Bullroarer

Dr. Hirini Melbourne
Tühoe, Kahungunu.
Composer, university dean.