Welcome to another issue of He Manawa o Te Reo. We hope you will enjoy reading what we have to offer you in this year's edition. As always our aim is to draw your attention to our programme of events for Māori Language week.

Māori Music

Waiata or songs and chants are an important part of Māori culture. The words and expressions preserve the wisdom and knowledge of ancestors.

There are many forms of waiata used for different purposes including oriori (lullabies), waiata tangi (laments), waiata aroha (songs of love), ngeri (a type of chant), manawawera (a form of challenge) and waiata poi (poi songs). Waiata are often performed at the end of whaikōrero (speeches) to support what has been said. They can also be sung to remove tapu (restrictions) or to engage, entertain, calm, or comfort the listener.

Traditionally, waiata were always performed in unison with very few actions and with no musical instruments or choreography. While this is still the case today, contemporary waiata are commonly sung with accompaniment, include harmony, and are performed with complicated actions and choreography.

Information from Waiata on Korero Māori, the website developed by Te Taura Whiri i te reo Māori the Māori Language Commission

Websites

About Māori Music

Māori Music

from Te Ara (1966 Encyclopedia of New Zealand)

Waiata

from Te Ara (1966 Encyclopedia of New Zealand)

Traditional Māori Music

from Discover, National Library of New Zealand

Waiata

from Korero Māori, the website developed by Te Taura Whiri i te reo Māori the Māori Language Commission

Waiata

lyrics and information from folksong.org.nz

Links

Contemporary Māori music

listing of sites from Christchurch City Libraries' internet gateway

Taoka Pūoro - Music

listing of sites from Christchurch City Libraries' internet gateway

Books, CDs, and music at Christchurch City Libraries

Māori Songs

catalogue search

Māori Music

catalogue search

Music online

Māorimusic.com

a website for purchasing Māori music online

SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music

Māori and New Zealand Music available for purchase online