Waiata 1

RERENGA WAIRUA

The Story Behind the Song

Because of wars in the Waikato some members of the Ngati Pou migrated to the far north where they settled near relatives living on the shores of a harbour south of Herekino. They called their new home 'Whangape" after the place they had left behind in the Waikato.

After they had been living at Whangape for some time, a handsome young chief Ueoneone decided he would pay a visit to his kinsmen in the Waikato. There he met the chief Tuihu who had two lovely twin daughters, Reipae and Reitu. As soon as Ueoneone saw them, there sprang up between the three young people a feeling of great attraction and affinity. Now this young chief was very clever at playing the putorino or flute and so that evening as Tuihu and his hapu sat round the fire, he played lively tunes for the pleasure of them, all but especially for the two girls, who gazed with admiration at this talented young man.

The next night, and many nights following Ueoneone played his putorino deliberately doing his utmost to charm Tuihu's lovely daughters. Eventually he composed a waiata to sing to them. When he had finished his waiata he looked at Reipae and said, "Mehemea ko Kopu, koe". You're like Venus the morning star. Then he turned to Reitu. "Ko Hine-titama koe, matawai ana te whatu i te tirohanga" - You are like Hine-titama, the eye glistens (or fills with tears) at the sight of you.

In fact, he thought them both so beautiful that he found it difficult to make up his mind which one he admired the more - Reipae or Reitu. Soon after this, he returned home to Whangape in the far north and left both sisters pining for their handsome admirer.

A most unusual thing happened some weeks later. A karearea, or sparrowhawk alighted on the front porch of the girls' whare and they were both convinced that it must be a messenger from the young northern chief. Each girl felt sure that she was the one for whom it had been sent and they began arguing with each other.

Eventually, they overcame their jealousy and both made preparations to journey north. After a tohunga had chanted karakia to make them light enough for the bird to carry them, they set off on its back for Whangape. Their brother Rakamoana also left for the North, but he travelled by land.

The karearea spread its wings and flew steadily on until they were nearing what is now known as Whangarei. Reitu who was riding in front of Reipae said to the bird, "We have travelled many long miles, are you not weary of carrying us both?" Reipae overheard this remark and took offence but she did not admit it. Instead she asked the karearea to let her off as she wished to relieve herself. Obligingly the bird stopped but as soon as Reipae had alighted she refused to go any further but said she would wait for her brother, Rakamoana.

She called the spot where she had landed One-rahirahi - the beach-of-quick-overhearing'. This beach gave its name to the place now known as Onerahi. Reipae then wandered along the shores of the harbour until she met a young chief Tahuhu-potiki, fourth in descent from Manaia, after whom the castle-like mountain peaks at the mouth of the harbour are named. The two young people became enamoured of each other and before long were married with due ceremony. The place where Reipae met Tahuhu-potiki was given the name Te Whanga-a ­Reipae - the abiding place or harbour of Reipae, and this became abbreviated to Whangarei, which was later applied to the whole district at the headwaters of the harbour. Meanwhile, Reitu continued her journey on the back of the bird until she reached the Whangape Harbour where she was given a great welcome atMaukoro Pa.

Soon preparations were under way for her marriage to Ueoneone and when all was ready, she was conducted across the harbour to his pa Te Toma, where a huge hakari was held to celebrate the union between the two important tribes. Through her marriage to this influential young chief, Reitu became a famous ancestor of many tribes of the Ngapuhi.

Waiata Rerenga Wairua

Rerenga Wairua tënä whakarongo mai

Papaki tü ana ngä tai o Te Tokerau

Ueoneone rä he tangata rangatira e

Nö te Aupouri, Ngapuhi nui tonu e

Taku ara taku mana he wahine whakaiti

Reitu te wahine nö Tainui waka e

Näna i märena ko Ueoneone e

Ka puta ka ora tätou ngä uri e

Nö reira e te iwi kua mutu ngä mihi

Aku tangi körero aku tangi tikanga e

Noho iho e koro ko Ueoneone e

Ngä manaakitanga

A te hunga runga rawa e

Rerenga Wairua (x3)

Ngapuhi nui tonu ka tahi ka rua aue hï

The spirit flies the path of the departing spirits

Fly now and listen to this

The tides/waves of Tokerau are crashing on the shore

There is Ueoneone, who was a great leader

He is from the te Aupouri of the great and strong Ngapuhi

My path, my strength leads to this woman of humility

Reitu is this woman belonging to Tainui waka

It was Reitu who married Ueoneone

From them came their descendants, us who live today

As such, our story is finished

My story of tikanga has been called out

Lie still my tupuna Ueoneone

Being looked after/watched over

By those above us all

The spirit flies the path of the departing spirits

PUREA NEA

Purea nei e te hau

Horoia e te ua

Whitiwhitia e te ra

Mahea ake nga poraruraru

Makere ana nga here.

E rere wairua, e rere

Ki nga ao o te rangi

Whitiwhitia e te ra

Mahea ake nga poraruraru

Makere ana nga here,

Makere ana nga here.

Scattered by the wind

washed by the rain

and transformed by the sun,

all doubts are swept away

and all restrains are cast down.

Fly O free spirit, fly

to the clouds in the heavens,

transformed by the sun,

with all doubts swept away

and all restrains cast down.

Yes, all restrains are cast down.