Te Marae o Hine: Land's historic identity and principles inspire song
Saturday, 9 January 2021
Reclamation of the original name for Palmerston North's heart is gaining not just momentum, but melody.
Curious pedestrians stop to take in the soulful sound from beneath thefeet of the Te Peeti Te Awe Awe statue as Kane Parsons gives Te Marae o Hine/The Square its own soundtrack.
The Ucol music teacher has lived in Palmerston North for decades and strolled through its Square countless times. He was shocked to discover it had been gifted another, more purposeful name more than 140 years ago, which he learnt when Stuff launched a campaign for its use in September.
“How long has that statue been there and how have I never actually read what was on there? It's just incredible. I mean, Te Marae o Hine, the Courtyard of the Daughter of Peace, how beautiful is that?”
**READ MORE:
* Society changes with the seasons as Te Marae o Hine springs into life
* Historians reflect on Palmerston North's first 150 years
* Manawatū tamariki embrace Rangitāne's past and present
**
It inspired him to craft a song that celebrated Te Marae o Hine's history and its kaupapa, or principle.
Te Marae o Hine was bestowed upon the land in 1878 as Pākehā poured into Manawatū.
Rangitāne chiefs Te Peeti Te Awe Awe and Hoani Meihana understood the need to secure a space for Māori customs, and an area where all cultures could come together peacefully as a community.
They, alongside kaumātua of surrounding iwi, gifted the name to then-mayor George Snelson. Te Marae o Hine – The Courtyard of the Daughter of Peace was to be a place of peace and unity for all facets of Papaioea.
Throughout the 20th century the name Te Marae o Hine was rarely written or spoken by the public. Parsons hoped his music would help bring awareness of its significance.
'I’ve always used music to come together. If this can help in any way that would be good. We're at that point where the message is actually being listened to.'
Since Stuff's campaign commenced, Te Marae o Hine has begun to feature in publicity material for events in the park, be spoken on the radio, and appear on Google Maps for more than just the courtyard of carvings at the southern end of The Square.
On the statue of Te Peeti is inscribed: ‘’I have done my duty, do you likewise.”
Parsons said the song was his way of performing his duty, by striking the keys of the piano and broadening the mind of his community through music.
“It's quite exciting because you start to learn about the history of your place. It’s nice to know about where you're from.”
He approached Rangitāne chairman Wiremu Kingi Te Awe Awe for his blessing before he began composing the piece, which was granted.
Watching Parsons play piano in te marae is Nuwyne Te Awe Awe Mohi, Te Peeti's mokopuna. She believes the song represents a change of tune in the community.
“It's the recognition of the actual name that was bestowed on the area and that our wider community are embracing that.
“When you're not Māori and you're still able to respect the culture and heritage of the area you're fond of, and you can embrace the traditional and cultural history, we must be doing something right.”
She had been assisting Parsons with lyrics, which weave a story about Te Rongorito, an aristocratic woman in Waikato in mid-17th century, who establishes her marae, Te Marae o Hine, and how that name is bestowed upon land in Rangitāne's rohe in 1878, and the kaupapa the area was founded on.
“You get a bit of inspiration every now and then, there's a spark from something you read and it’s amazing,” Parsons said.
He intends to translate the song into te reo and New Zealand Sign Language, to recognise all of Aotearoa’s official languages.
The piece of music is still a work in progress, he is ready to start workshopping it, with plans for a choir to bring it to life at the city’s upcoming150th anniversary commemorations.
“If one day it gets sung and I get goosebumps, or someone gets goosebumps, that would be awesome.”