Te Tangi a Wairaka

About

Written in 2015 for NCEA Scholarship Music, Te Tangi a Wairaka (The Cry of Wairaka) portrays the story of Wairaka, known as the woman from Maori legend who gave the town of Whakatane its name. The waka Mataatua, carrying the rangatira Toroa and his daughters Wairaka and Muriwai, ventured between Hawaiki and the Eastern Bay of Plenty region to strengthen family connections and deliver provisions. The waka was battered by harsh storms before arriving at Ohinemataroa River, Whakatane. While the men left the women to explore the surroundings, the storm created strong tides in the river and the waka drifted out to sea. To save the women on board, Wairaka took on the role of a man, breaking the tapu of only men paddling the waka, exclaiming “Kia Whakatane au I ahau!” (I will act as a man) as she safely brought the waka to shore. Ngati Awa and Tuhoe iwi trace their ancestry back to Toroa and Wairaka; the music follows the events and moods of this whakatauki.