Upstart 2016 Poi E cp

the power of the poi
Aside from training Māori warriors,
and being fun to play and perform
with, the poi has had other powers
in NZ’s history.
In 1982 a song called Poi E was
written by Māori language tutor Ngoi
Pēwhairangi. She teamed up with
the famous New Zealand musician
Dalvanius Prime and the Patea
Māori Club who provided the music
and vocals for her song.
Back then, songs in Te Reo rarely
made it onto the NZ music charts,
so no record companies wanted to
release the song. So, Dalvanius
Prime started his own music label
(Maui Records) and released Poi E
in 1984.
Poi E was a unique mix of Māori
language and culture with a funky
rhythm, fun music video and the
Patea Māori Club demonstrating
their skills with the poi. Poi E quickly
became the No. 1 song on the NZ
music charts (beating Michael
Jackson’s Thriller). It was big
overseas too. The Patea Māori Club
toured the UK performing the hit
song and even performed for the
Queen.
The History of the poi
The poi has been used by both men and women for
generations. In the past, Māori used the poi to make their wrists
more flexible. This was important when weaving or when using
most Māori weaponry, including the taiaha.
The poi wasn’t only used to help Māori weavers and warriors; it
was also a fun pastime.
Poi were most commonly made from harakeke
(New Zealand flax).
Want to know more about Poi E and the people behind the
song? See Poi E - the story of our song in NZ cinemas
from 4 August 2016.
www.upstartmag.co.nz
Poi E has even been in the Top 10
for the past three decades. It has
become NZ’s unofficial national
anthem.
Poi E was such a powerful song
because it encouraged New
Zealanders to proudly speak and
sing in Te Reo. It also gave mana to
the people of Patea (a town in
South Taranaki), who had been
through some challenging times
when the local freezing works was
shut down and many jobs were lost.
Poi E inspired the local people to
feel hopeful about their futures.
poi e
- the lyrics
Poi E, written by Ngoi Pēwhairangi, 1982
Composed by Dalvanius Prime
Translated for the film Poi E - the story of our song, by Reikura and Tearepa Kahi:
E rere rā,
e taku poi porotiti
Tītahataha rā
Whakararuraru e
Porotakataka rā
Porohurihuri mai
Rite tonu ki te tīwaiwaka e
Take flight
My sweet, young fledgling
To distant shores
Which will challenge you
Should you ever doubt yourself
Look deep inside
And dance with the joy of a fantail
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Ka parepare rā
Pīoioi rā
Whakahekeheke e,
Kia korikori e
Piki whakarunga rā
Māminga mai rā
Taku poi porotiti,
Taku poi e
Whakatata mai
Kaua e rere kē
Kia piri mai ki au
Āwhi mai rā
Tapekatia mai
Ō tāua aroha
Paiheretia rā
Poi, taku poi e
Rere atu taku poi tītahataha rā
Whakarunga, whakararo, taku poi e
E rere rā e taku poi porotiti
Tītahataha rā
Whakararuraru e
Porotakataka rā
Porohurihuri mai
Rite tonu ki te tīwaiwaka e
Ka parepare rā
Pīoioi rā
Whakahekeheke e,
Kia korikori e
Piki whakarunga rā
Māminga mai rā
Taku poi, porotiti taku poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Poi e
Whakatata mai
Kaua he rerekē
Kia piri mai ki au
Āwhi mai rā
Tapekatia mai
Ō tāua aroha
Paiheretia rā
Poi, taku poi e, poi taku poi e
Rere atu taku poi tītahataha rā
Whakarunga,
Whakararo,
Taku poi e!
Hi!
www.upstartmag.co.nz
Bobbing and weaving
Shaking and swaying
Spinning and twirling
Moving and grooving
Moonwalking to the heavens
Fanning out your tail to the world
My one and only,
Sweet precious child
Stay close to me
Never lose your identity
Embrace your culture
It will see you through
Let it always be
Our love for each other
Which binds us together
My child, my precious child
Fly out into the world
And be filled with pride wherever you go
Fly out, my child
Beyond known shores
Which will challenge you
Should you ever doubt yourself
Look deep inside
And dance with the joy of a fantail
Bobbing and weaving
Shaking and swaying
Spinning and twirling
Moving and grooving
Moonwalking to the heavens
Fanning out your tail to the world
My child, my precious child
My child
My child
My child
My child
My child
My child
My child
Stay close to me
Never lose your identity
Embrace your culture
It will see you through
Let it always be
Our love for each other
Which binds us together
My child, my precious child
Fly out in search of new horizons
Beyond limitation
Beyond imagination
My sweet, precious child!
Hi!
what to do:
- Illustrations: Grant Brown
1. Measure six strands of wool in two colours or
multi colours.
Short poi: The wool strands need to be about
the length of your forearm
(from your elbow to your middle finger tip).
Long poi: The wool strands should measure from
your shoulder to the tip of your middle finger.
2. Hold the six strands together and tie a knot
at one end.
make your
own poi
3. Start a 3-plait from the knot end. Once
you’ve finished plaiting, knot the top end,
but leave enough strands of wool at the
top to tie around the ball of stuffing.
you will need:
• Wool (two or more
colours)
• Stuffing
– cut up fabric,
old socks, etc.
4. Grab a bunch of stuffing and scrunch it up
into a ball about the size of a fist.
Now tie the ends of the strands around the
stuffing to hold the ball in place.
• A plastic bag
• Sticky tape
5. Put the plastic bag over the stuffing and
gather it at the last knot you made and tie
with a separate piece of wool or string to
hold it together.
6. Trim the plastic beneath the tie.
Then finish it off by wrapping sticky tape
around the tie.
www.upstartmag.co.nz
Activity
Watch the Poi E music video at www.upstartmag.co.nz/poi-e
What were your favourite parts of the Patea Māori Club’s performance?
Why?
Activity
Think your
performance was
extra special?
Break up into groups. Discuss how you would recreate the music video if
the song was released today. Record your ideas.
Consider: How would you use poi and respect the tradition of poi? How
would you include traditional Māori culture? How would you include
modern culture?
Take photos or a video of
your performance and
show us your moves by
posting it online at:
www.upstartmag.co.nz/p
oi-e.
Using your poi work together in a group to practise your own Poi E
performance and present it to your teacher or class.
www.upstartmag.co.nz