Ka noho au i konei
Composer
Pēwhairangi, Te Kumeroa Ngoingoi (Ngoi)

1921 – 1985
Born Te Kumeroa Ngoingoi Ngawai on 29 December 1921 at Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast of the North Island, she was known affectionately as Ngoi. Ngoi was the eldest of five children of Hori Ngawai of Te Whanau-a-Ruataupare of Ngāti Porou of Tokomaru Bay, and his wife, Wikitoria Te Karu, of Ngāti Koi in the Hauraki region. Ngoi was raised in the Ringatu faith by her relatives Huka Pohaera and Raiha Kamau at Waiparapara. Her father, who worked as a labourer, was a minister of this church and an advocate of the Kotahitanga movement, which Ngoi herself later supported.
Songs by this composer
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Ko au
Ko au he manu
Ka tū ka rere maiHe tau, he tau nā
Ka hoki mai anō5 Ki te āwhina auē
more
Ngā taonga aroha
Hei... -
E tū tautoko noa
E tū tautoko noa
Ngā tumanako e
A te ngākau māhaki
Te hautū ake nei5 Kua honohia nei e
more
Tātou i tēnei rā
I... -
Hei konei rā
Hei konei rā
more
Ka hoki au
Ki te kāinga e
Tēra te wā
5 Ka kite anō
Tātou i a tātou katoa
Nā te aroha
I...
Ka noho au i konei
Lyrics
Auē! Ngā iwi e
Ka noho au i konei ka whakaaro noa
Me pēhea rā te huri a te ao katoa?
Ngā rongo kino e tukituki nei i te takiwā
5 Ngā whakawai e hau nei i ngā tamariki
Kua kore noa he ture hei arataki
Te mana, te ihi ka takahia mai
Kia kaha tātou ki te whakahoki mai
Te mauri ora me te wairua
10 Auē! Ngā iwi e!
Tāpaea ngā hē katoa ki runga rawa
Kei a ia te ora me te mārama
Kapohia te aroha nui o te ariki
Māna e kaupare rā ngā kino katoa
15 Whītiki, maranga mai, horahia rā
Ngā kupu hei oranga ā-tinana e
Kia noho ai i raro i te maru e
Te rangimārie me te rongo pai
Auē! Me te aroha
20 Te rangimārie me te rongo pai
Auē! Ngā iwi e!
Puritia tō mana Māori Motuhake
Auē! Auē! Auē! Hā!
Explanation
This waiata-ā-ringa was composed at Ngoi’s home when, after a long day working in her garden, Ngoi took shelter under a tree and watched her son Terewai, and her mokopuna Gina come home. She looked at her family and contemplated what the future would hold for them and how the world was changing dramatically around her. This song has also become popular in Māori communities because of the significant message it sends to Māori.
Tāmata Toiere would like to thank the Pēwhairangi Whānau Trust for their permission to share this waiata.The audio for this waiata was recorded by Ngoi's family at Pākirikiri marae, Tokomaru Bay originally for the CD which accompanies the biography on Ngoi. The waiata was mixed and edited at Mauria Mai Productions by Chub Renata.