Poi E’s legacy continues over 40 years
Hundreds of people gathered to mark the 40th anniversary of a song that went on to be heard around the world and which became a symbol of hope for a South Taranaki iwi.
Poi E was written on August 12, 1982, when Ngāti Ruanui were being told they would not survive the closure of their main employer.
‘‘Back then, the community relied on the Pātea meat works as the main supplier of employment for our people,’’ said Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer during Saturday’s gathering at Pariroa Marae in Kakaramea.
‘‘However, its closure in 1982 caused significant social issues for our whānau, meaning most had to relocate to more urban towns while others struggled significantly.
‘‘At the time we were pretty much smashed collectively,’’ Ngarewa-Packer said. ‘‘We were being split up for the first time since the confiscation era, so it [Poi E] was hugely important.’’
Poi E, written by Maui
Dalvanius Prime and Ngoi Peiwhairangi, was recorded by the Pātea Māori Club and became a hit in 1984, topping the charts and leading to the Pātea Māori Club touring the UK and giving a Royal Command Performance.
‘‘It meant more to us than winning an award. It represented our ability to hang on to one another when hope was being taken off us.’’
About 500 people took part in the gathering, which was in celebration of the songs of the Pātea Māori Club.
‘‘We have got the next generation of the Pātea Māori Club,’’ Ngarewa-Packer said, ‘‘and all the young ones who have gone out and created all these kapa haka groups around the country, and they have come together with descendants and their groups to learn Pātea Māori Club songs.’’
Among those taking part were representatives of about five North Island kapa haka groups that came out of the Pātea Māori Club.
Those teaching at the marae on Saturday were the ‘‘little ones’’ who could be seen sitting in front of the waka in the original Poi E music video, Ngarewa-Packer said.
Haimona Maruera, who was part of the team organising the event, said it was important their taonga, their stories, did not get lost. ‘‘The more people that know and hear the stories, the more living it is. The songs tell the history, the whakapapa and topics of the day, of the time, the struggles and how they combated the struggles.’’
There were a lot of families, generational groups, who had not been home for a happy occasion in a long time, he said.
Chicky Hopkins was 16 years old when she sang track 14 on the Poi E album.
The song was very inclusive, Hopkins said. ‘‘Many non-Māori were also attributed to the success
of Poi E, including the then mayor Norm Mckay, the Lions club and the butcher.’’
Pātea Māori Club chair Laura Maruera said they were proud of the legacy, the story of which was later told in a documentary film, Poi E: The story of our song, released in cinemas in 2016.
‘‘It is fabulous. It is going from one generation to another.
‘‘Our mokopuna are learning the songs. It has gone to the next generation. We feel privileged to be here to see this happen.’’
Huia Davis, who was one of the ‘‘originals’’, said that back when they made the record, they had no idea of the impact Poi E would have. ‘‘It was overwhelming.’’
And while it was ‘‘fabulous fun’’ recording the song, Davis laughs at the memory of Prime, who died in 2002, ‘‘growling’’ at them to get the sound he wanted.
‘‘He was a blessing for us.’’