Te Reo O Te Māori - Paraire Tomoana

Rights Information
Year
1968
Reference
40644
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Year
1968
Reference
40644
Media type
Audio
Duration
00:31:00
Taonga Māori Collection
Yes
Credits
RNZ Collection
Nepia, Ted, Presenter
Tomoana, Taanga (b.1911, d.1986), Speaker/Kaikōrero
New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (estab. 1962, closed 1975), Broadcaster

[See ID 40643] Ted Nepia introduces the programme in te reo Māori. Taanga Tomoana talks about the kawa [protocol] of various marae of Ngāti Kahungunu.

The episode of Te Reo o Te Māori is followed by a separate recording [in English] of an interview with Taanga Tomoana about his father, Paraire Hēnare Tomoana and his life story.

An unidentified male announcer [possibly Michael Mohi ?] explains that the Royal New Zealand Navy is to adopt the tune from the well-known Māori song "E pari ra" as its official tune to be played at ceremonial functions. The tune will be officially given to the Navy at a special function to be staged at the Pakipaki Marae during the consecration of the new Bishop of Aotearoa. The composer of this tune was the late Paraire Tomoana.

His son Taanga Tomoana, then gives a biography of his father. He explains how he overcame his club foot to be a successful sportsman and his schooling at Te Aute College. He was secretary of the Young Māori Party and the Confederation of Māori Tribes.

He explains how his father was inspired to write 'E pari ra' during World War I by images of the sea, both on the shore of Gallipoli and the shore at Ahuriri, and an image of a mother farewelling her son over the sea.

He also talks about the origins of another World War I composition "I runga o nga puke" and the Hawkes Bay Māori Entertainers party which his father founded, which raised thirty thousand pounds for returned soldiers.
He ends by explaining how his father agreed to give 'E pari ra" to both the Air Force and Navy as their official songs.