Pokarekare Ana

"Pokarekare Ana" is a traditional New Zealand love song, probably communally composed about the time World War I began in 1914. The song is written in Māori and has been translated into English. It enjoys widespread popularity in New Zealand as well as some popularity in other countries.

Composition

East Coast Māori song-writer Paraire Tomoana, who polished up the song in 1917 and published the words in 1921, wrote that "it emanated from the North of Auckland" and was popularised by Māori soldiers who were training near Auckland before embarking for the war in Europe.

There have been numerous claims and counterclaims regarding authorship over the years. Although the matter has never been definitively settled, guardianship of the words and music is held by the family (descendants) of Paraire Tomoana.

The Māori words have remained virtually unaltered over the decades, with only the waters in the first line being localized. For example, some versions refer to Rotorua, a lake in the North Island. It is then associated with the story of Hinemoa swimming across the lake to her forbidden lover, Tūtānekai, on Mokoia Island. However, there have been many different English translations.

"Pokarekare Ana" was originally written predominantly in triple time, with the verse in duple time, but has been more commonly heard in duple time since World War II.

Lyrics

Māori

English

Pōkarekare ana, ngā wai o Waiapu Whiti atu koe hine, marino ana e. E hine e, hoki mai ra Ka mate ahau i te aroha e. Tuhituhi taku reta, tuku atu taku rīngi Kia kite tō iwi, raru raru ana e. E hine e, hoki mai ra Ka mate ahau i te aroha e. E kore te aroha, e maroke i te rā Mākūkū tonu i aku roimata e. E hine e, hoki mai ra Ka mate ahau i te aroha e. Whati whati taku pene, kua pau aku pepa Ko taku aroha, mau tonu ana e. E hine e, hoki mai ra Ka mate ahau i te aroha e.

The waves are breaking, against the shores of Waiapu, My heart is aching, for your return my love. Oh my beloved girl, come back to me I could die of love for you. I have written you a letter, and enclosed with it my ring, So your people could see it how much I'm troubled for you. Oh my beloved girl, come back to me I could die of love for you. The sun's hot sheen, won't scorch my love, Being kept evergreen, by the falling of my tears. Oh my beloved girl, Come back to me I could die of love for you. My poor pen is broken, my paper is spent, But my love for you endures, and remains forever more. Oh my beloved girl, come back to me I could die of love for you.

Use

The song is very popular in New Zealand, and has been adapted for multiple purposes, including in advertising and by sporting groups. Notable uses include:

• "Sailing Away", which promoted New Zealand's 1987 America's Cup challenge, and featured an ensemble choir of famous New Zealanders recording as 'All Of Us',
• It is best known worldwide through Air New Zealand's TV advertisements in 2000. This version was performed by Rose Hanify (later of NZ Band Supermodel). In particular, the song became a phenomenon in Australia during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where the song again became another unofficial anthem, this time for the success of Oceania into the new millennium, specifically during the time of the Olympic Games, and beyond.
• "Pokarekare Ana" was sung at the opening of the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung by Hayley Westenra and Russell Watson.
• In April 2013, members and spectators in the parliament of New Zealand sang "Pokarekare Ana" after the house passed the bill legalising same-sex marriage in New Zealand.

In popular culture, "Pokarekare Ana" was used as the theme song for the 2005 South Korean film Crying Fist.

Versions

Recordings

Dozens of recording artists throughout the world have performed and recorded the song. Internationally known New Zealand opera singers to previously record and perform "Pokarekare Ana" are Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Dame Malvina Major.

Late in 2003 "Pokarekare Ana" was featured on the album Pure, released worldwide by the young New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra. Pure is the fastest selling debut album ever on the UK classical charts. Her rendition of "Pokarekare Ana" also prominently appears in the video game Endless Ocean.

A version of the song features on the self-titled album by Angelis, a British classical singing group.

One of the more well-known versions of the song was when it was sung by New Zealand artist Prince Tui Teka.

The most internationally exposed recorded version of the song was performed by Rose Hanify. This version was used in Air New Zealand advertisements worldwide during 2000. Most notably, this recording became featured throughout the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, both publicly, and through heavy media coverage.

A version of the song sung by Scottish comedian Billy Connolly is used as the theme to his 2004 Tour of New Zealand and features on both the DVD and CD.

The group Splashdown, discontinued, also did a version of this song, titled "Running with Scissors".

On the CD Classical-Crossover Compilation 2011, Hollie Steel sings Pokarekare Ana. Steel later released the song as a charity single for those suffering from an earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Adaptations

The song was introduced to South Korea by New Zealand soldiers fighting in the Korean War. It was eventually given Korean lyrics and a Korean title, "Yeonga" (Korean: 연가), and has become popular across the country.

Ron Goodwin used it in his orchestral piece, "Earnslaw Steam Theme", which began with percussion evoking the steam ferry Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu.

In April 2009 the Israeli composer Rami Bar-Niv wrote a piano piece based on the song – "Pokarekare Variations". He wrote it based on a suggestion of a friend from Rotorua, and as a new piece to mark his fifth concert tour of New Zealand in September 2009.

The melody of "Pokarekare Ana" was used for an Irish hymn to the Blessed Virgin: "A Mhuire Mháthair, sé seo mo ghuí".

A homophonous translation into Hebrew was composed in 2007 by Ghil'ad Zuckermann. In this translation the approximate sounds of the Māori words are retained while Hebrew words with similar meanings are used. In this translation, however, "Waiapu" is replaced by "Rotorua" (oto rúakh, Hebrew for "that wind").

External links

• Traditional version on YouTube, sung a cappella by Marie Te Hapuku, with vintage photos of Māori women
• "Pokarekare Ana" by Karly Te Maro, MP3 used by Air New Zealand at the Wayback Machine (archived 21 July 2005)