"Pōkarekare 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

Eastern Maori politicians Paraire Tomoana and

Āpirana Ngata Sir Āpirana Turupa Ngata (3 July 1874 – 14 July 1950) was a prominent New Zealand statesman. He has often been described as the foremost Māori politician to have served in Parliament in the mid-20th century, and is also known for his work ...

published the song in 1919, but neither of them claimed to have composed it. They explained that it had "emanated North of Auckland" and was popularised by Māori soldiers who were training near Auckland before embarking for the war in Europe. 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 Lake Rotorua in the

North Island The North Island, also officially named Te Ika-a-Māui, is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but much less populous South Island by the Cook Strait. The island's area is , making it the world's 14th-largest ...

. It is then associated with the story of

Hinemoa Hinemoa is a popular female Māori given name, often shortened to Hine. It is particularly associated with Hinemoa and Tutanekai, a Māori legend about a couple kept apart. Other people with the name include: * Hinemoa Elder Hinemoa Elder ...

swimming across the lake to her forbidden lover, Tūtānekai, on Mokoia Island. However, there have been many different English translations. "Pōkarekare 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 and melody

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 File:1987 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes after leaving the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, killing 193; Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes after takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, k ...

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challenge Challenge may refer to: * Voter challenging or caging, a method of challenging the registration status of voters * Euphemism for disability * Peremptory challenge, a dismissal of potential jurors from jury duty Places Geography *Challenge, C ...

, and featured an ensemble choir of famous New Zealanders recording as "All of Us". *It was used in multiple TV advertisements for Air New Zealand in the 1990s (using a recording with Kiri Te Kanawa) and in 2000. Air New Zealand also used the song again in 2020 to mark the 80th birthday of New Zealand's national airline, this time, using a recording from Hayley Westenra. *In April 2013, members and spectators in the New Zealand Parliament sang "Pōkarekare Ana" after the house passed the bill legalising same-sex marriage in New Zealand. In popular culture, "Pōkarekare Ana" was used as the theme song for the 2005 South Korean film '' Crying Fist''. In the 2019 DLC for Civilization VI, Gathering Storm, the main theme for the added Māori civilization is Pōkarekare Ana and Ka Mate. There are four renditions of the theme, each corresponding to a different era in the game. These renditions were composed by

Geoff Knorr Geoff Knorr (born 13 June 1985) is an American composer, orchestrator, and sound designer. He has worked on video game titles such as ''Civilization V'', '' Civilization: Beyond Earth'', ''Civilization VI'', '' Galactic Civilizations III'', and ' ...

and Phill Boucher.

Versions

Recordings

Dozens of recording artists throughout the world have performed and recorded the song. A version of "Pōkarekare Ana" by

Rhonda Bryers Rhonda Bryers (1952-2007) was a New Zealand singer of Maori descent. At one stage she was regarded as New Zealand's top entertainer. Background Bryers was born in Taumarunui to famous Maori rugby player Ron Bryers and Betty. Her first husband was ...

appears on the 1981 CBS various artists album ''

The Mauri Hikitia ''The Mauri Hikitia'' is a various artists album released in 1981. It reached no 4 on the New Zealand charts. It features Rhonda, Ken Kincaid, Deane Waretini, and the Lightwood family. Background The album was represented by various Maori artis ...

''. Richard Clayderman recorded an instrumental version in 1984, which appeared on the album ''Memories''. Among New Zealand opera singers to record and perform "Pōkarekare Ana" are

Kiri Te Kanawa Dame Kiri Jeanette Claire Te Kanawa , (; born Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron, 6 March 1944) is a retired New Zealand opera singer. She had a full lyric soprano voice, which has been described as "mellow yet vibrant, warm, ample and unforced". Te ...

and Malvina Major. "Pōkarekare Ana" was featured on the 2003 album '' Pure'', by the New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra. A version of the song features on the self-titled album by

Angelis Angelis was a British classical singing group created by Simon Cowell. It was initially formed in early 2006 and was made up of six children, who were then aged between 11 and 14. The children were discovered during nationwide auditions led by ...

, a British classical crossover singing group. On the CD ''Classical-Crossover Compilation 2011'', Hollie Steel sings "Pōkarekare Ana". Steel later released the song as a charity single for those suffering from the 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Adaptations

It was known that 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" ( ko, 연가), and has become popular across the country. The melody of "Pōkarekare Ana" was used for an Irish hymn to the

Blessed Virgin Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of ...

: "A Mhuire Mháthair, sé seo mo ghuí". A homophonous translation into Hebrew was composed in 2007 by

Ghil'ad Zuckermann Ghil'ad Zuckermann ( he, גלעד צוקרמן, ; ) is an Israeli-born language revivalist and linguist who works in contact linguistics, lexicology and the study of language, culture and identity. Zuckermann is Professor of Linguistics and Ch ...

. 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").Po kar hi li tikrá na "'It's cold here', she will tell me"
homophonous translation of "Pōkarekare Ana" into Hebrew.

References

External links

* Armstrong, Alan ''Haere Mai'' (1985) Viking Sevenseas Ltd
"Pōkarekare Ana – A Māori Love Song"
documentary, NZ On Screen * , sung

a cappella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...

by Marie Te Hapuku, with vintage photos of Māori women * , Teddy Tahu Rhodes * , sung by Hayley Westenra * {{Authority control 1914 songs New Zealand folk songs Māori music Songs in Māori