Ngoi Pewhairangi

Tu Tangata, Issue 23, 1 April 1985, Page 35

Ngoi Pewhairangi

Tena koe,

I am very interested in placing my poem into your next Tu Tangata magazine issue, which pays tribute to one of Maoridom’s greatest and last writer of Maori music, author, crafts woman, leader and orator, Mrs Ngoi Pewhairangi. Na Henare Mahanga Ngati Hine and Ngati Korora tribes Taitokerau. This poem is set around the Meeting house called Te Hononga ki Rarotonga who speaks about his grand child (Ngoi Pewhairangi) and how he asks her to return to papatuanuku.

Te Hononga Ki Rarotonga calls his grand child home She was my gifted child, to the people she gave her everything, heart, aroha, and all, the body was weak for many a year, but the heart and mind was strong, willing so eager to give, for she was my gifted child, always least to say, action she preferred, to flourish the dreams she dreamed for those she loved cherished and cared, her body was weak for many a year, but heart, aroha and mind was strong willing eager to give, for she was my gifted child to the people she gave her all. So many a year she served them all so willing, freely to give her all. For she was the last of an era never to return. Tuini, Tamanui, Tui, Ngata, they the resting totara they call haere mai Ngoi, kua tae mai te wa, kua ngenge marika koe, me noho tatou i roto i te whare o papatuanuku, me korero tatou, me waiata tatou, me tangi tatou, me moe tatou. Ae haere mai e Ngoi, kua mutu to mahi i roto i te ao hurihuri. I Te Hononga Ki Rarotonga stand as a pillar, in my bosom your tupuna stand in silence, they await your arrival home, weeping with invisible tears to man’s eye they fall eyes still, body still but so proud they stand, for you our child have served your people more than man can say, as I your pillar must call you home, for your body cannot share, give, care and love no more, for your body was weak for many a year, but the heart and mind was strong, willing so eager to give her all, return home my child for you are to become a mist, legend to those who live, may they know that you live within their hearts for many... a year, for she was my gifted child given to the people she gave her heart, everything, aroha and all. The living tears we will always share, for loneliness covers your people, for I Te Hononga Ki Rarotonga gave this gifted child to the people, she gave her everything, aroha, heart and all, Ngoi Pewhairangi I salute you, your pillar Te Hononga Ki Rarotonga for the people you served.