Waka Huia - Hirini Melbourne & Te Puka a Maui

Most of this Waka Huia episode consists of an in-depth interview in te reo with composer and teacher Hirini Melbourne (Ngāī Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu). Melbourne reflects on his Rūātoki childhood and his (short) time at Te Aute College. He penned his first te reo songs in Pōneke (Welllington), while studying to be a teacher. Melbourne performs a selection of short, catchy waiata inspired by animals and birds, plus a longer composition about Lake Waikaremoana, and  'Orongomai' — a song inspired by the 1987 return of Halley's Comet. The last 20 minutes features a performance by Invercargill cultural group Te Puka a Maui.     

This is a song about birds...about owls. The owl is a bird that scares many Māori [laughter]. They hear it sing and say 'yes, someone has died' . . . The Pākehā knows this as an intelligent bird. To some Māori as well, it is the guardian of their families.

– Hirini Melbourne introduces a song about ruru (owls)

Key Cast & Crew

Pere Maitai

Field Director

Tainui Stephens

Studio Director

Whai Ngata

Programme Editor

Hemana Waaka

Presenter, Interviewer

Hirini Melbourne

Subject

Wayne Smith

Sound