Pokarekare Ana

[Stan]

I just found this cool music video by Hayley Westenra from New Zealand..it's called Pokarekare Ana and it's in Maori.

http://www.findvideos.com/other.html
click where it says "pokarekare ana" and it'll download the video.

what do you think riki?

[Ariki]

Hey,

I haven't watched the video clip yet!

[Stan]

did you watch it? does the site work?

[clint]

a cool video clip.

Does anyone know where I can find online the Air NZ ad with the maori girl holding the stick with Pokare kare ana playing in the background?

[Ariki]

Kia Ora Clint

Have you checked the Air NZ website to see if they keep a storage of all their ad campaigns? If you have, then ignore this part of the message...

Um, you could try doing a search on one of the p2p networks like Kazaa to see if anyone has recorded it?

[Ariki]

Kia Ora Anō,

No I still can't listen or watch her sing it

However, I have a manako (thought) to share about that song anyway.

The song's original composer is unknown (some claim it was written by Sir Apirana Ngata, but I contend that).

The song is actually about a male who is in love talking about this girl who lives across an expanse of water away from him. Hence, I think it's funny when women sing it, because the singer is singing from the point of view of the man.

Below is the full text to Pōkarekare Ana and it's translation in to English.

Pōkarekare ana
Ngā wai o Rotorua,
Whiti atu koe e hine,
Marino ana e,

Rippling are,
The waters of Rotorua,
You cross over girl,
When it is calm,

(the chorus)

E hine e!
Hoki mai rā!
Ka mate ahau
I te aroha e

Oh girl!
Come back to me!
I will die,
From love

Tuhituhi taku reta,
Tuku atu taku rīngi,
Kia kite tō iwi,
Raruraru ana e

Written my letter,
Sent away my ring,
So that your people will see,
But there are problems

(chorus)

E kore te aroha,
E maroke i te rā
Mākūkū tonu,
I aku roimata e

My love,
Will never be dried out by the sun,
It is moistened always,
By my tears

(chorus)

Whatiwhati taku pene
Kua pau aku peipa
Ko taku aroha,
Mau tonu ana

My pen has shattered,
My paper has been used up,
My love,
Is firm forever

(chorus)

Gay guys who sing this song, will change 'Hine' in to 'Tama' (boy). As you can see, you will understand why I think it's better when men sing it, especially when it's addressed to a lover who is a female (unless the female singer is a lesbian hehe).

[clint]

www.hayleywestenra.com has in in her video section.

check the spelling above? but her official website has pokarekare ana clip.

[Ariki]

The computers here at uni are really bad for watching or listening to stuff over the internet

And my chances of using the family computer at home???

[Sirach]

Oh, you guys have one of my favourite Maori songs! ^__^ I liked it so much in the past that I memorised the chorus and the first stanza!

Pokarekare ana,
Nga wai o Rotorua...

[cielbleu]

Kia Ora Anō,


The song is actually about a male who is in love talking about this girl who lives across an expanse of water away from him. Hence, I think it's funny when women sing it, because the singer is singing from the point of view of the man.

Hehe, I guess this is the reason it is on the Air New Zealand ad - because he is singing to his lover across the water, and to get there you must travel on a plane. It makes perfect sense.
Even though Hayley Westenra doesn't fit the discription of a man in love, her voice does make the song sound lovely.

[Ariki]

oh no doubt it does sound nice. But at the same time, if you're a speaker of the language, you can then delve in to what it actually means