By Ngoi Pēwhairangi - Whakarongo

COMPOSER
Pēwhairangi, Te Kumeroa Ngoingoi (Ngoi)
Ngoi Pēwhairangi
1921 - 1985
Born Te Kumeroa Ngoingoi Ngawai on 29 December 1921 at Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast of the North Island, she was known affectionately as Ngoi. Ngoi was the eldest of five children of Hori Ngawai of Te Whanau-a-Ruataupare of Ngāti Porou of Tokomaru Bay, and his wife, Wikitoria Te Karu, of Ngāti Koi in the Hauraki region. Ngoi was raised in the Ringatu faith by her relatives Huka Pohaera and Raiha Kamau at Waiparapara. Her father, who worked as a labourer, was a minister of this church and an advocate of the Kotahitanga movement, which Ngoi herself later supported.
Whakarongo
Year: 1980
LYRICS
Whakarongo!
Ki te reo Māori e karanga nei
Whakarongo!
Ki ngā akoranga rangatira
Nā te Atua i tuku iho ki a tātou e
Pupuritia, kōrerotia mō ake tonu
Tirohia!
Ngā tikanga tapu a ngā tīpuna
Kapohia
Hei oranga ngākau - auē
Whiua ki te ao
Whiua ki te rangi
Whiua ki ngā iwi katoa
Kaua rawa rā e tukua e
Kia memeha e
Whakarongo!
Ki te reo Māori e karanga nei
Whakarongo!
Ki ngā akoranga rangatira
Tēnā kia purea te hau ora e
He kupu tuku iho mō tēnei reanga
He kupu tuku iho mō tēnei reanga
Whakarongo!
Tō reo whakarongo!
EXPLANATION
‘Whakarongo’ is a waiata-ā-ringa by Ngoi Pēwhairangi. It is one of Ngoi's most famous compositions and incorporates her beliefs and methodology on teaching te reo Māori.
‘Whakarongo’ was originally composed at Pākirikiri Marae in Tokomaru Bay.The waiata was composed during a wānanga that Ngoi Pēwhairangi was hosting for the team from Koha television programme. Waihoroi Shortland and Selwyn Muru asked Ngoi to compose a song and 'Whakarongo' was the resulting composition. Ngoi gathered her whānau together to assist her with creating the actions and teaching the people from Koha as the majority of them were Pākehā who had never learnt a Māori song before. Ngoi then took this composition with her to Ngāruawāhia to the last Te Ataarangi hui she attended and adapted some of the words for them. The verse that begins with ‘Whiua ki te ao . . .’ was the verse she gave the Koha team to encourage them to spread Māori programmes in broadcasting to the nation and to the world. For Te Ataarangi, she replaced that verse with one that begins ‘Tēnā kia purea te . . .’. The waiata contains a poignant message which is summarised in the lines 'He kupu tuku iho mō tēnei reanga. Whakarongo! Tō reo whakarongo!' (A language to be passed on for this generation - Listen! Listen to your language).
The popularity of this song spread throughout the nation, and in different Māori communities today, many people sing both distinctive verses she composed for the two groups. In 1995, the Māori Language Commission, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, made ‘Whakarongo’ the official song for the Year of the Māori Language. This further increased the profile of the song in nation.

[@robc6560]

What a beautiful looking marae 🥰

[@ruatea1237]

Omg My Marae, Te Tai Tonga❤❤

[@danyaradimacher6581]

Kia ora whanau.....I've always loved this waiata :)

[@fugitivefootlicker7036]

I was so sure this was my marae for a minute haha, nice to see a gathering singing together

[@jetblackhair92]

Hehe girl in the beginning couldn't wait to get back to the dinner table

[@koreykahaki6209]

love this waiata kia ora xox

[@arah8006]

No ngati Parau ahau he Atahua tēnei Waiata

[@akuapiatas]

tika tōu pepeha e hine, ae kia reka te waiata ataahua inaianei

[@Paris45627]

It’s awesome. That the Maoris respect hygiene bye removing there shoes into your home 🙏

[@hughx5235]

Ataahua te whare! Kei hea?

[@trishbarrales-kuchel4942]

Manurewa Marae, Auckland

[@tripplex162]

There all out of tune

[@julianwarmington1267]

E tika ana? He ataahua te tangi ki enei taaringa.
He mea ano hoki: they sure sing better than me!