Purea Nei

He manu tīoriori, he tautōhito ki te tito waiata me te whakatangi puoro, he kaiako, he kaituhi, he kaiwhakatenatena i tōna iwi Māori kia puritia te reo me ngā tikanga.

I tipu ake a Hirini i te mātotorutanga o tana taiao Māori, ā, koinā hoki te tāhūhū o tana whare kōrero. I titoa te waiata nei mā tētehi o ana hoa i te pokea e te māuiui. Ko tōna ngako he whakaora anō i te tinana, i te hinengaro, i te ngākau me te wairua o te tangata kia mahea ai ngā taumahatanga me ngā karawhiunga o te wā. He waiata e kaha waiatatia ana i ngā momo kaupapa katoa, hui ora mai, hui mate mai.

Hirini Melbourne is of Ngāi Tūhoe and Ngāti Kahungunu descent, and a revered Māori composer, musician, educator and stalwart revivalist who played a key role in the regeneration and preservation of taonga puoro (traditional instruments). He was also an advocate for the revitalisation of Māori language, custom and culture. This song was written for one of Hirini’s friends who was burdened with illness. In essence, the waiata seeks to uplift the mind, body, spirit and soul, so as to be cleansed of disconcerting hardships. It is a song that is widely sung, for many different occasions. Hirini’s music, steeped in traditional Māori artforms, emulates the sounds of the natural world. His ingenious lyricism and innovative blending of traditional Māori musical styles with contemporary influences make him one of the greatest Māori musicians of all time.

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