Pōnika was born in Ruatoki on 28 June 1920, where she attended Ruatoki Native School and Hukarere Girls' College.[1] Her father was a clergyman and she was one of eight children, descended from Ngāti Porou on her father's side and Tūhoe on her mother's side.[2][3] She has said she loved singing from an early age.[3]
She married Koti Hohia Pōnika on 24 May 1940,[4] and they adopted seven children together.[1] In 1967 the family moved to Tūrangi due to her husband's work on the Tongariro Power Scheme, where she lived for the rest of her life.[1][3] In 1969 she founded the Hei Tiki Māori Youth Club in Tūrangi in 1969.[5]
Popular waiata (songs) composed by Pōnika include "Aku Mahi", "Kua Rongorongo" and "E Rona E".[6] Her song "Tōia Mai Rā" won a national New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC) award in 1966 for best action song.[7][8] In 1969 she won an award for original Māori Songs and Lyrics in the NZBC Cook Bi-Centenary Celebration Competition.[7] In the 1980s she travelled to the United States as a tutor with the exhibition Te Maori.[5]
Death and legacyedit
Pōnika died on 25 November 1989.[9] She had been predeceased by her husband in 1984.[10]
In 2009, her whānau (family) launched a ten-track CD of her waiata, titled Ka Haku Au – A Poet's Lament. It inspired a documentary of the same name about her life and career featuring members of her whānau, directed by Ngahuia Wade. The documentary was aired on Māori Television and won Best Māori Language Show at the 2009 Qantas Film and Television Awards.[6][2]
Referencesedit
^ abcUnderhill, Bridget (ed.). "Kohine Tewhakarua Ponika née Rangi". Kōmako: A bibliography of writing by Māori in English. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
^ abc"Ka haku au – A poet's lament". Kōkiri. Te Puni Kōkiri. 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
^ abc"Growing up in Ruātoki and composing songs". Ngā Taonga: Sound and Vision. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
^"Marriage search: registration number 1940/8157". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
^ abc"More songs". Ngā Taonga: Sound and Vision. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
^ abc"Ka Haku Au – A Poet's Lament". NZ On Screen – Iwi Whitiāhua. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
^ ab"Composing and singing". Ngā Taonga: Sound and Vision. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
^""Pop" in Maori Music". The Press. 6 December 1966. p. 13. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
^"Death search: registration number 1989/54473". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
^"Death search: registration number 1984/51023". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
External linksedit
"Karanga, Karanga" by Pōnika on the New Zealand Folk Song website
April 12, 2024
kōhine, pōnika, kōhine, tewhakarua, pōnika, née, rangi, june, 1920, november, 1989, zealand, composer, known, māori, waiata, songs, bornkōhine, tewhakarua, rangi, 1920, june, 1920ruatoki, zealanddied25, november, 1989, 1989, aged, occupationcomposer, māori, wa. Kōhine Tewhakarua Pōnika nee Rangi 28 June 1920 25 November 1989 was a New Zealand composer known for her Maori waiata songs Kōhine PōnikaBornKōhine Tewhakarua Rangi 1920 06 28 28 June 1920Ruatoki New ZealandDied25 November 1989 1989 11 25 aged 69 OccupationComposer of Maori waiataSpouseKoti Hohia Pōnika m 1940 died 1984 wbr Children7 Contents 1 Early life and family 2 Career 3 Death and legacy 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and family editPōnika was born in Ruatoki on 28 June 1920 where she attended Ruatoki Native School and Hukarere Girls College 1 Her father was a clergyman and she was one of eight children descended from Ngati Porou on her father s side and Tuhoe on her mother s side 2 3 She has said she loved singing from an early age 3 She married Koti Hohia Pōnika on 24 May 1940 4 and they adopted seven children together 1 In 1967 the family moved to Turangi due to her husband s work on the Tongariro Power Scheme where she lived for the rest of her life 1 3 In 1969 she founded the Hei Tiki Maori Youth Club in Turangi in 1969 5 Career editPōnika wrote waiata songs in both te reo Maori the Maori language and English 5 She could not read sheet music 6 2 Popular waiata songs composed by Pōnika include Aku Mahi Kua Rongorongo and E Rona E 6 Her song Tōia Mai Ra won a national New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation NZBC award in 1966 for best action song 7 8 In 1969 she won an award for original Maori Songs and Lyrics in the NZBC Cook Bi Centenary Celebration Competition 7 In the 1980s she travelled to the United States as a tutor with the exhibition Te Maori 5 Death and legacy editPōnika died on 25 November 1989 9 She had been predeceased by her husband in 1984 10 In 2009 her whanau family launched a ten track CD of her waiata titled Ka Haku Au A Poet s Lament It inspired a documentary of the same name about her life and career featuring members of her whanau directed by Ngahuia Wade The documentary was aired on Maori Television and won Best Maori Language Show at the 2009 Qantas Film and Television Awards 6 2 References edit a b c Underhill Bridget ed Kohine Tewhakarua Ponika nee Rangi Kōmako A bibliography of writing by Maori in English Retrieved 6 November 2022 a b c Ka haku au A poet s lament Kōkiri Te Puni Kōkiri 2009 Retrieved 14 November 2022 a b c Growing up in Ruatoki and composing songs Nga Taonga Sound and Vision Retrieved 6 November 2022 Marriage search registration number 1940 8157 Births deaths amp marriages online Department of Internal Affairs Retrieved 17 November 2022 a b c More songs Nga Taonga Sound and Vision Retrieved 6 November 2022 a b c Ka Haku Au A Poet s Lament NZ On Screen Iwi Whitiahua Retrieved 6 November 2022 a b Composing and singing Nga Taonga Sound and Vision Retrieved 6 November 2022 Pop in Maori Music The Press 6 December 1966 p 13 Retrieved 14 November 2022 Death search registration number 1989 54473 Births deaths amp marriages online Department of Internal Affairs Retrieved 17 November 2022 Death search registration number 1984 51023 Births deaths amp marriages online Department of Internal Affairs Retrieved 17 November 2022 External links edit Karanga Karanga by Pōnika on the New Zealand Folk Song website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kōhine Pōnika amp oldid 1170055601, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
