Composer
Kīngi Kiriona
Kingi Kiriona (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Apa) has established himself as a prominent composer, orator and performing artist. Kingi rose to fame while still at secondary school, winning both English and Māori sections of the National Manu Kōrero competition. His prowess in oratory and composition followed through to Tainui Regional and National Kapa Haka competitions, co-founding a new and innovative team, Te Iti Kahurangi in 2003.
Songs by this composer
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E Te Pouaka Whakaata Māori
E Te Pouaka Whakaata Māori!
Kāore koa taku hōhā
Te kūhīhī nei i roto i ahau
Ka ngau ki taku puku, a haha!5...
more -
Te Harihari Kōrero
Kua rongo rānei koe?
more
Kua wehe atu tana wahine
Kei te mahi tarau makere
Kua rongo rānei koe?
5 A... -
Te Piki Tūranga
Tērā koia ko Okewa
Te parekawakawa ki a Taupiri
Haea iho nei e te ata
Mōhou e taku Arikinui5...
more
Te Harihari Kōrero
Lyrics
Kua rongo rānei koe?
Kua wehe atu tana wahine
Kei te mahi tarau makere
Kua rongo rānei koe?
5 A tēnā kua peke taiapa kē
Kua kuīni kuīni, e kare!
I ahu mai i te ngutu kuia
I te ika haehae kupenga
I te wahine pihareina e
10 Ko te nanakia rā
Ko te harihari kōrero
Nāwai i kōhimuhimu
Kātahi ka hē kē atu
Me taringa kirirua e
15 Nāwai i kōrero tika
Kātahi ka kōrero teka
Kaua e taringa hōkeke
Kua rongo rānei koe?
Kua tino tūpuhi rawa e
20 I te moe pūremu, tāhae
Kua rongo rānei koe?
A tēnā kua pukunati e
Kua hapū he pōriro, auē!
Mehemea koe ka whakarongo
25 Kaua rawa e whakapono
Kia pā te waha o te hoiho e
Mō te nanakia rā,
Ko te harihari kōrero
Mehemea mōu ngā kōrero
30 Me taringa kōhatu, taringa mārō
Ka whakarongo uka atu e
Kei noho ka hīrawerawe
Kia mau ki te rangimarie, me te aroha
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Have you heard?
She’s left her husband
And is doing the dirty!
What about the latest?
He’s jumped the fence.
To bat for the other team. Queen!
Generated by tattlers
Instigated by trouble-makers
And by nosey women tale-bearers
I’m talking about gossip!
What begins as gossip
Can end up as gospel
Keep your ears open
What starts off as the truth
Can be twisted into a lie, in which case
Keep your ears shut
Have you heard about him
He’s mucking around, the evidence
Is written all over his body
What about her?
She’s got a pot belly, I heard it’s because
She’s pregnant from that one night-stand
With so and so.
Don’t believe everything you hear
Unless it comes from the horses mouth
I’m talking about gossip!
If anything is ever said about you
Don’t pay attention, even though it’s hard
To bear pain with firmness
By merely worrying about it, you are only
Satisfying the gossip-mongers intentions
Keep the faith! Love is the best weapon.
Explanation
The poi was composed as a clever, entertaining and light-hearted response to some very burdensome rumours and warns of the consequences of gossip mongering, and offers advice to those who fall victim to it; ‘kia mau kit e rangimārie me te aroha – keep the faith!’
Tune: Te Waipounamu Teinakore, Te Manawaroa Teinakore