Pōkarekare Ana

Pokarekare Ana is a traditional New Zealand love song, probably communally composed about the time World War I began in 1914. It has been translated into English, and also enjoys some popularity in Australia.

Authorship

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 are 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 town in the North 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	The waves are breaking, against the shores of Waiapu, My heart is aching, for your return my love.
E hine e, hoki mai ra, ka mate ahau i te aroha e.	Oh my beloved, come back to me, my heart is breaking for of love for you.
Tuhituhi taku reta, tuku atu taku rīni Kia kite tō iwi, raruraru ana e.	I have written you a letter, and enclosed with it my ring, If your people should see it, then the trouble will begin.
E hine e, hoki mai ra, ka mate ahau i te aroha e.	Oh girl, come back to me, my heart is breaking for of love for you.
Whatiwhati taku pene, kua pau aku pepa Ko taku aroha, mau tonu ana e.	My poor pen is broken, my paper is spent, But my love for you endures, and remains forever more.
E hine e, hoki mai ra, ka mate ahau i te aroha e.	Oh my beloved, come back to me, my heart is breaking for of love for you.
E kore te aroha, e maroke i te rā Mākūkū tonu i aku roimata e.	The sun's hot sheen, won't scorch my love, Being kept evergreen, by the falling of my tears.
E hine e, hoki mai ra, ka mate ahau i te aroha e.	Oh 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, specificially 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 spontaneously 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

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 tune 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 sung a cappella by Marie Te Hapuku, with vintage photos of Māori women
• Webpage with comprehensive background
• "Pokarekare Ana" by Karly Te Maro, MP3 used by Air New Zealand