Community comes together for Waiata Wednesdays

With Tamihana (Te Popoto) on guitar, ‘Waiata Wednesday’ usually begins with a rousing version of Toia Mai, and takes in feel good classics like Pokarekare Ana and SIX60’s hit, Pepeha.

For Tamihana the weekly get together at the communal space  of a Kāinga Ora complex in Auckland’s North Shore, is about sharing and connection.

“Everyone is welcome, whether you’ve lived here all your life or you’re new,” he says. “That is what this is about. We hang out, we call it whakawhanaungatanga (establishing relationships). We sing waiata, have a laugh and a cup of tea.”

“It is an opportunity to connect with the whole community and learn to get on with one another."

Established by local artist and kaiako Natanahira (hapu) to connect people with culture, and each other, the group has quicky taken off with as many as 20 regulars.

The group meets at the communal space of a recently built 88 home Kāinga Ora complex in Auckland’s North Shore.

As well as laughter, and a half time kapu tī (cuppa), there’s discussion about the meaning and origin of the songs themselves.

“Waiata is important. It’s all part of te reo Māori. The songs encompass certain kaupapa (ways of doing things). We learned our culture through waiata. Our whānau gave us the reo through waiata.

“It’s also about sharing our culture with people who are new to New Zealand, and we in return can learn from them.”

For fellow Kāinga Ora resident, Paul (Ngati Whakaue), the weekly get togethers hold a special significance.

“The first week I was here we had waiata. I was a professional singer for 60-odd years but I had an accident and damaged my voice. So, now I get to come here and we just sing songs together. It’s a lovely thing to come down to, I look forward to it every week, ” Paul says.

Recently, the group were invited to perform their first ‘gig’ – singing to a hall of whānau having kai through the Communnity Life Kitchen.

Bringing song to the community is a form of service, explains Tamihana.

“It’s about doing things, that is what the group is for. It’s about giving tautoko (support) to others. I don’t know where it will lead but as long as Wednesdays keep coming around, we’ll keep turning up!”