IT MUST BE DONE!

WALDO HOUIA

26 03 09

Papa Waldo came to tautoko the roopu today. He gave us a really great korero about his experiences in development of te reo in Aotearoa. He was the one who encouraged me to learn te reo at Waikato. It changed my life. So now on occasions like powhiri, yep, I MUST do the karanga. Aue, man it makes me nervous but I do it cause it is important to him and to the adhereance to tikanga. This is my son Te Kani with him and Papa says he MUST come so that he will know what to do when it is his turn to take the rakau.

Yep here we are "you Must karanga, and he aha to wai?" So of course I have to do a Duet with him. Te Kani flat out refuses but me, "Whakarongo ki te reo Maori e karanga nei" A Ngati Porou waiata of course in front of Pounamu who comprise of the 2009 Matatini champions Te Waka Huia. Too much!!! Shame. My smile is because Kotuku has restarted the song again from the tangata whenua side and so here I am singing badly for the second time. Cher KT.

I am stoked that Papa was welcomed onto the marae by the roopu and tikanga was followed. His korero following was captivating and I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to Karanga at all let alone for Papa. Hei aha the solo, duet waiata though.