St. Joseph's Maori Girls' College Centenary.
[Programme 2 of 2 - Recordings made at the school's centennial concert]
- St. Joseph's students sing 'Hoea ra nga waka'.
Sir Apirana Ngata's whakatauki, 'E tipu e rea' is read and translated. Wiremu Parker says this summarises the ideals of St Joseph's Māori Girls' College, and speaks about the prestigious position it enjoys in Māoridom.
St Joseph's students sing a waiata of welcome to an important visitor, then the school song. This is followed by a waiata about the many iwi represented at the school.
At the entrance to the school is a statue of a Māori representation of St. Joseph, the College's patron saint. Embraced in his left arm is the child Jesus, personifying his love and protection for the Māori people. Clasped in his right hand is an adze, a symbol of his humble trade. At his feet stands a basket of kumara, indicating his role as a provider. The girls never forget their patron, and have a hymn which pays him homage. The girls sing: 'Aroha ki a Hohepa'.
In 1966, the Māori Purposes Fund Board in conjunction with the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation organised a competition in original Māori song composition. A large number of senior students entered the competition. The poi song category was won jointly by Miss Puke Cotter of Wairoa and Miss Flora Edwards of Rotorua, both St Joseph's students.
Their winning poi song: 'Tenei au me taku poi', is heard.
Another winning entry by Hine Kaipara, Margaret Ropiha, Christina Kiau, and Susan Toromata, 'Te Awa o Waikato' is heard.
Both of these waiata and many others were performed in the school's centennial concert.
The St Joseph's girls are known for their skill in poi, but also in chants, as their renditions of two examples show:
- 'Taku patu' and 'Taku meremere'
Sister Katerina is the leader of the girls' concert party. She is an ex-pupil, and also teaches the girls Māori language and culture.
- Waiata: 'Hine e Hine' and 'Po karekare ana'