Whakaari one year on: Maisey Rika sings Te Puketapu ki Paepaeaotea

8:12 am on 9 December 2020

Whakatāne-based and award-winning singer Maisey Rika penned the waiata, Te Puketapu ki Paepaeaotea, at the time of the eruption of Whakaari a year ago to acknowledge those who died. It takes the listener on a journey of the sacred landmarks around the rohe.

Te Puketapu ki Paepaeaotea talks about the rocks near Whakaari, in which they are where the spirits depart the physical world. She says the first verse can be seen as instructions to those who were killed due to the eruption.

The second verse goes on to describe the signs prior to the eruption including a flock of kōtuku that was seen, calls of the ruru and earthquakes that were felt prior, and acknowledging the environment and how Papatūānuku speaks and warns through certain tohu.

In the RNZ studio in Auckland, Maisey Rika joined by Te Rina and Erica Ransfield shared this waiata with us to mark the one year anniversary of te pahū o Whakaari.

Lyrics:

Te Puketapu ki Paepaeaotea

Ko Turuturu

Ko Tokamaomao

Ko Māuku

Ko Tokaroa

Rukuhia te puta ngaru e

Rere runga rawa rā ki ngā Rangitūhāhā

Kua riro koe, kua riro koe

E te kaponga nui ō ringa aituā

Kua riro koe, kua riro koe

Te Puketapu ki Paepaeaotea

Ko Ruaumoko

He māpu Kōtuku

Te parekura mate karawaka

Te tangi ā te rūrū

Waipuketia ngā awa

Ngā tohu ā Rangi, ngā tohu ā Nuku e

Kua riro koe, kua riro koe

E te kaponga nui ō ringa aituā

Kua riro koe, kua riro koe

He maimai aroha

E tangi apakura ana

Mōu i kapohia atu rā e Te Pūia

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