Waiouru Cultural Festival 09
Te Reo Heramana (voice of the sailor) Culture Club members attended the bi-annual NZDF cultural festival in Waiouru on 3 October. Our group is made up of the wider Naval Community, civilians, family members and service members; there were some new faces, balanced with the seasoned performers. The waiata (songs) in our programme were mostly written by members of our group and this proved to be a good point of difference to the other NZDF groups.
This year’s programme opened with ‘Whakaari mai’, as a tribute to the late Sir Howard Morrison—this is the song he sang at the Royal Command Performance and is remember by his fans since. This was followed by a powerful item with our ladies wheeling patu (club) and the men their taiaha (spears). ‘Whakawhanautanga’ was written by CPO Karauria Ruru, acknowledging all the people throughout NZDF who came together to support the Waiouru festival. The last part acknowledges our Navy pepeha (proverb), our mountain Maunga Uika, our river Nga Awa e Rua, and our whenua Te Kurae a Tura.
Next was a moteatea (chant) ‘Tenei Au’, written by Dr Peter Sharples. This is a karakia used before warriors went into battle to call on the gods to give them strength, knowledge and expertise with the taiaha to fight the enemy.
The programme then changed completely and we performed an Waiata-a-ringa (action song) ‘Tu ana Te Ngakau Hihiko’ written by Maria and Bones Tapene. It talks about following your dreams and aspirations, but the most important thing is to have aroha (compassion and consideration) for one another
No bracket is complete without a Poi song, and the one chosen was written by CPO Miru Mclean, with the tune by PO Kelly Kahukiwa. ‘Anei Ko Te Taonga Te Tamaiti’ acknowledges our precious tamariki (children). We must care for them so they stand with pride and dignity, for they are our leaders of tomorrow.
Our men then took the prime position on the stage with their Haka ‘Te Matauranga’ which speaks of our tupuna (ancestors) handing down the knowledge to inspire us, to use the knowledge and hold on to our Te Reo me ona tikanga me ona kawa.
The ladies joined in for the Navy Haka; ‘Te Tumu Herenga Waka’, by CPO Miru Mclean and CPO Karauria Ruru, acknowledges our three core values.
We completed the programme with Whakawatea (exit) song ‘Tautoko’ written by CPO Miru Mclean and PO Kelly Kahukiwa. This paid tribute to all the hard work and long hours our group put in and also thanked Ngati Tumatauenga (NZ Army) and the people behind the scenes: cooks, cleaners and organisers, who worked so hard to make this kaupapa a wonderful success.
And thanks to, to all the NZDF groups that participated in the Waiouru Cultural Festival 2009. Without you the traditions, customs and whakawhanaungatanga (family and friendship links) of this wonderful occasion would not have been possible.
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