Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Te Pāti Māori co-leader and list MP based in Te Tai Hauāuru will this weekend share in the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Pātea Māori club anthem, Poi E.

“Iwi of Taranaki and Ngāti Ruanui will be reminiscing the past 40 years of Poi E, composed by Maui Carlyle Dalvanius Prime, this weekend” said Ngarewa-Packer.

“Dalvanius was born and raised in Pātea, South Taranaki. Back then, the community relied on the Pātea meat works as the main supplier of employment for our people. However, its closure in 1982 caused significant social issues for our w’ānau, meaning most had to relocate to more urban towns whilst others struggled significantly”

“The composition of Poi E by Dalvanius Prime and Ngoi Peiwhairangi came after the closure. The anthem acknowledges the Pātea community, and the implications caused. Instilling hope in our people to carry on”.

“The waiata promoted the use of Te Reo Māori and still does today. You ask any non-Māori born in Aotearoa, and im sure they’ll know one or two lines of the waiata,” said the Māori Party Co-leader

“Poi E became a hit in 1984, before Dalvanius and Ngoi began working on a musical that Pātea Māori club would take on world tour in 1986”

The chair of Pātea Māori club Laura Mendes said “we are so humbled that we gather together this weekend to celebrate Poi E. It’s a chance to revive all our waiata passed on from our old people to the young. A very emotional but beautiful time.”

“We are hugely proud of Poi E achieving this milestone for the Pātea community and Te Reo Māori in Aotearoa. The poi can be likened to the fantail flying through a forest, just like tangata whenua finding their way through colonisation, land loss and reclamation of identity” said Ngarewa-Packer.

“The loss of rural jobs in small town communities has to this day had devastating and longing effects for Māori. This anthem inspires our own to use Te Reo Māori, to be proud to be Māori and that like a fantail, we will eventually find our way” said Ngarewa-Packer.

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