Tahi Nei Taru Kino

Indigestion !

Verse 2 is usually not sung these days. The rhetorical question "He aha kei taku uma
Pākikini nei ?" is likely to be met with derisive comments about "Tokopā !" (Indigestion)

This is how the verses are arranged on some popular CDs:

Inia Te Wiata: 1-4-3
Maori Songs From NZ: 1-4-3-4
Kiri: 1-4-4-4
Kia Ora: 1-4-1-4
Aotearoa Maori Chorale: 1-3-4-1
Heritage of Maori Song: First verse only. The way the song is usually sung, and pronounced, is shown on the printable songsheet.

Comments

Here are comments from some of the CDs:

Kiri: Paraire Tomoana's song of flirtation - it expresses the joys and sorrows of love, and the effect they have on a person who cannot quite identify these strange feelings of joy and anxiety combined. Some Maori people jokingly translate the song as "Is this love, or is it indigestion?"

Inia Te Wiata: This famous song expressing the joys and sorrows of love, was written by the late Paraire Tomoana of Ngati Kahungunu, but like many another song, it owes much of its popularity to the Arawa people, with whom it has always been a favourite.

Aotearoa Maori Chorale: . . . a lively love-song which became popular during the Second World War.

Our thanks to Marge Austin of Rocky River for this waiata CD research.

Pronunciation

This is the way these words are pronounced on the Kiri CD, as close as I can get to them.

• whaiāipo,   whai-ā-i-po,   "fie ARE ee por."

• aroha kau,   a-ro-ha kau.	In this song,   "are RAW ha KAR-W."
  	In ordinary speech, aroha is   "ARE raw ha."

• kore ua e,   ko-re ua e,   "core RARE wa AIR."

• whakakaitoa i muri   wha-ka-kai-(toa i) mu-ri   "far CAR kye TOY mu ri"

• Kei roto i a koe,   Kei ro-(to i) a ko-e,   "kay ROAR toy ARE cor eh."

This song on record

A quick search of the National Library catalogue in April 2002 located about 30 recordings of Tahi nei taru kino. These range from orchestral and opera versions, to Hawaiian and party music. A sample:-

• Ana Hato and Deane Waretini, 1930s,
• Johnny Wade and his Hawaiians, 1945
• Bill Wolfgramm and His Islanders, 1955
• New Zealand Concert Party, 1959
• Sam Freedman, 1965
• Inia Te Wiata, bass opera singer,1966
• Putiki Maori Club Choir, 1966
• The Apaapa Sisters,1967
• Turakina Maori Girls' College, 1971
• Daphne Walker, with Bill Sevesi and his Islanders, 1984
• Ashley Heenan pianist, with soloists, chorus and orchestra, 1984
• 25 solid gold Maori songs, 1988
• The Great Kiwi party tape (Rugby,racing and beer...), 1980s
• Kiri Te Kanawa, soprano opera singer, 1990s
• Ngāti Pöneke 1930s and 1940s songs, 1990s
• Traditional music of the Maori: historical collection,1999

Paraire Tomoana was born in Hawke's Bay in about 1875. Composer, publisher, Ngati Kahungunu and Ngati Te Whatu-i-apiti leader. His secondary education was at Te Aute College, alongside of Apirana Ngata and Peter Buck. He was prominent in the Young Maori Party.

Despite having been born with a club foot, Pariare excelled in sport, representing Hawke's Bay in tennis, cricket and hockey, and for more than 10 years was the undefeated champion at the NZ Maori golf tournament. He was appointed All Black coach in 1904.

He married twice. His first marriage had ended by 1912. The following year he married Kuini Ripeka Raerena, aged 19. Paraire courted her by singing an early version of Pökarekare Ana to her and her Ngati Porou elders.

During WWI helped raise funds for the Maori Soldiers' Fund by organising a song and dance group (Te Poi o Heretaunga) which performed at Wellington, Trentham and Auckland, including his compositions Hoea Ra Te Waka Nei, and E Pari Ra (1918 - the famous tangi for soldiers lost in battle). His songs reflected the modern European 'action song' style, moving away from the ancient chant rhythm of waiata and patere. Among his compositions are Te Ope Tuatahi, Poi Waka and Tahi Nei Taru Kino.

As well as composing action songs, Paraire was an accomplished writer and translator, a commentator on ancient waiata, and was well versed in Maori history and lore. Pariare was a remarkable man because he did so many things and did them comprehensively. He was not a dabbler.