Poroporoaki / Wiremu Parker.

Wiremu Parker explains the different meanings and uses of poroporoaki.

Poroporoaki has several meanings in terms of farewell. The most common of which is the farewell to the dead where tributes are paid to the dead, often in poetic form, and the best examples of oratory are spoken.

Poroporoaki can be addressed to the living and are often spoken at social farewell functions where someone is leaving to return home, travelling overseas, or after a hui.

A poroporoaki can be defined as any formal speech of farewell.

He goes on to give other examples of farewell, such as waiata aroha. Similar sentiments are expressed in more modern songs, indicating that waiata are still a popular form of poroporoaki.

Throughout history, poroporoaki has played an important part in Māoritanga and has not lost its prominence in the modern world. Now, poroporoaki can be found in written form as well, such as in a letter or in articles in such magazines as Te Māori, or at the end of a book as can be seen in Takitimu by J H Mitchell.