Haere Ra

About

Originally published by A. W. Robertson & Sons, Haere Ra (or 'Po Atarau') is undoubtedly Erima Maewa Kaihau's most famous song. The song is based on a piano piece, Swiss Cradle Song by Clement Scott, and was used to farewell departing Maori soldiers in World War One. There remains some debate over how much of the song was Kaihau’s work. Although she claimed to have written the words and music there is evidence that she based the words, at least in part, on pre-existing waiata.