American Reacts to First Māori Music Video from New Zealand *surprising* 

This song by the Patea Maori Social Club was produced as a fund raiser after the closing of Patea's main industry, the local freezing works and the subsequent devastation of the community (think Flint, Michigan). It is a song of hope and defiance, and it showed the indomitable spirit of the working people of the small, mostly Maori, community of Patea.

The poi-snatching chihuahua was one of Dalvanius Prime’s many pets (he had a bias towards chihuahuas, though) throughout his lifetime. By the way, he’s the guy who waved from a car sometime in the video, and was responsible for Poi E’s melody. The words, on the other hand, were written by renowned linguist and Maori renaissance legend Ngoi Pēwhairangi. Poi E was composed during an impromptu time of collaboration between the two. Dalvanius had initially planned to visit Ngoi for a few days at Tokomaru Bay (Ngoi’s hometown) during a break from his own hectic touring schedule in 1982, but stayed with her for a month where a few other well known songs were birthed as well. The Patea Maori Club first performed the track you reacted to in a 1983 competition with guitar accompaniment, which was and remains a staple for Maori music. By the way, the original version of Poi E is also posted in RU-vid under the title “Poi E (Live)”. Dalvanius realized the song had great potential, as proven when the group received a first prize award at the competition. The song was subsequently recorded in a contemporary disco-reggae style, and to cover the costs, various businesses and organizations in Patea contributed $100 each to the club. The folks in the video had released albums in the 1970s as the Patea Maori Methodist Club and South Taranaki Cultural Club, but the single Poi E was their first attempt at pop music (their albums had previously focused on traditional Maori songs only). Shortly after Poi E was recorded, the initial response from older Maori listeners at Tokomaru Bay, including the composer herself, was unenthusiastic. The year before, Dalvanius had produced “E Ipo”, another song written by Pēwhairangi for Prince Tui Teka, an extremely popular Maori entertainer who performed from the 1960s until his untimely death in 1982, gaining Ngoi’s appreciation for his arrangements. Nevertheless, Poi E’s space age rhythm was considered too innovative for Maori music, and the song was initially rejected by major record companies, leading Dalvanius to establish his own, Maui Records. The tireless joint effort Dalvanius and the club displayed to promote the song eventually caught the attention of the then 5 minute nightly Maori language news program “Te Karere”, and as they say, the rest is history.

I was tired after waking up but Poi E will always give me so much energy! I was singing along. It become so popular again after being in the movie Boy in 2010 I am pretty sure. Thank you for that. It is a vibe. It is so catchy and shows even songs in another language can just become so loved by people who don't speak that language and that is absolutely great!

As a kiwi kid in the 80s this was and still is an anthem

Kia Ora from Seoul! Wow! Thanks for showing this again. I think Delvanius was in the vehicle that showed in the video. Love it.

I have always loved this piece. I was 21 yrs old and in the NZ ARMY. Congrates on your marriage. I hope you had a wonderful day.

In the category of unofficial national anthems, you should definitely familiarise yourself with "Slice of Heaven" by Dave Dobbyn with Herbs. It originated from the soundtrack to the movie "Footrot Flats: The Dog'sTale" based on the classic NZ comic strip series by Murray Ball (multiple volumes in any bookstore). Not quite as popular but also from the same movie is "You Ought to be in Love." All important cultural knowledge for you to check out! :)

It was pretty strange to hear a song in Maori back then - the language was suppressed for so long. Poi E would be the first song I could recall which had a country singing along in Maori.... long before the Maori version of the national anthem was sung.

The song Poi E was ignored by the radio stations until it hit no 1 so they were forced to play it. .The video was quickly put together by the Rock Unit at TVNZ Avalon because no one expected it to be such a monster hit and there was no video to play on RTR countdowns top 20 rundown. Radio stations were incredibly conservative and only played top 40 material. Reggae would also find it hard to make the playlists at the time even though NZers loved reggae

This song always reminds of the movie Boy (a great NZ film) 😊.

Today I learned the English translation of the song that was sung by my family for years! 😅👍

This song brings back memories. I was 23yo in my 4th year of a 3 year BA degree at Auckland uni - 1st year I majored in partying, as you do 🤣🤣🤣

This was filmed in patea in the taranaki region. The group performing are the patea moari club.

I was born in Patea and started at Patea High School the year this came out, we sung it at our end of year prizegiving (that's kiwi for graduation). This brings back some great memories. I went to school with many people in the video, it also had one of my teachers, Sam Prime, he was a legend. My Dad was a freezing worker in the town and it was one of the first to shut down in the early 80's. This song was great for the community, and I don't think I realised it significance then, I was only 10. I'm sort of the opposite of you I'm a NZer back in NZ but I spent about 7 of the last 20+ years working in the USA in NC, CO and IN.......... I love your videos and I appreciate some of New Zealannd idiosyncracies that people from overseas find 'interesting' about Aotearoa.

Still makes me smile after all these years, especially white glove boy. Were you trying to think of "I'd like to teach the world to sing"?

Hi from Christchurch. It's been pretty warm here while the North Island is getting all the rain. I would have been 22 when this song came out. Have always loved it. Have you heard the song 35 by Ka Hao and Rob Ruha. Also a good one.

I was 26 when this song was out... same mullet hair just dyed it grey in the last few years, was coppery before I dyed it grey/silver/white 😳

It DOES lift your mood! You are so right.

hi from us in Hastings watch the film "boy "as this song is in that a great NZ movie

Filmed in Patea outside of Taranaki

New Zealand Culture is a mix of Cultures

i was just entering high school when this came out - it's a vital piece of kiwi culture for sure ...speaking of vital kiwi culture, check out The Knobz - 'Culture'

I am assistant and a move tutor trainer for Jolt dance teaching kids with disabilities and this is one of the warm up activities we do it’s constantly in my head

it was taped in a place called patea in taranaki region that was mount taranaki

That was filmed in a small town in the Taranaki. Patea. At least when they were on that building overlooking the road, about 3 mins into your video. I drove through there maybe 30 years later. Although some of the other scenes are definitely in a big city. It was number one in, cheating and looking it up, 1984. My last year of high school.

This is so old school everything just looks so 80s

The inspiration of Dalvanious Prime. Performed in Patea and enjoyed everywhere.

This was recorded in Patea by the Patea Māori Club.

I think The commercial you were talking about with kids on a hill singing, is a coke commercial. “ I would like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony “……… more to it.

Congratulations on your marriage!

There's a dope documentary bout this track.

Kul. Just did a mini workout for upper arms n swaying hips while this played. Kia ora.

Poi has the same "oi" as in oil, and the "E" sounds like "A". I was born in 1960 so I do remember this song popping up on tv at the time. It has a beautiful harmonising sound.

I love New Zealand and I have been to that building before picture

And congratulations on your marriage! ( and this too!)

Filmed in Patea, hence Patea Maori Club.

you look with this song music dezy mesmerized and happy

Not our national anthem but right up there. A Kiwi classic.

It's great to see an american getting that feeling in new zealand. I was only 2 years old ??I think when this was released WOW time fly. By the way congrates on your wedding.

Dancer Joe Moana recreated the scene in the 2016 doco on Poi E. Great ya put everything into some context at the end 10/10

Ha, my wife was so annoyed I didn't like this. For me it was hmmmm "too mainstream", "too comercialized" sounding. I bet it was a lot of fun to make 🙂 Then again around that time I was obsessed with a NZ band called Herbs (which wasn't for everyones taste).

Wondered where you’d got to. Good to see ya back on the box…ok 2023 let’s go girl👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

Look up favourite Maori love song from Rotorua whwn I grew up in 60s, 70s POKAREKAREANA

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Doowaadiddy Diddy.

Yea, you could some Maori history stuff if you like. Id watch

That is truely a Kiwi classic, have a listen to Rob Ruha "Ka Hao - 35

Yes it should not be raining worst summer in living memory so far 😢, we can only hope it gets better

Try Beats by Dre's video on the Haka.

Congratulations from Havelock nth

Even our UFC fighters have used this as a walk-out track. lol.

Congratulations on your marriage ☺️🪷

Tu meke Morgan to see you getting into Maori culture, & te reo,waiata, Kia kaha, Arohanui.

Poi Yeah!

Is filmed and pastel which is the song

Poi E is said like boy with a P and like Canadians say Eh. 👍

NZ music is full of maori, mostly in hiphop, but not only

It's raining because we are in the third year of la Nina and off western Australia is the Indian di pole current .Both these southern hemisphere ocean current systems bring large amounts of rain to Australia and New Zealand . If you want to live in the southern hemisphere best learn about La Nina and El Nino and you will understand what weather to expect for the coming summer or winter .I work in tourism and so many northern hemisphere people coming down to visit NZ and not understanding why it's wet .It would be like me going to the mid west USA in winter or south east asia during the monsoon and complaining about snow and cold or monsoon rains ,Id first learn about the weather patterns before planning a holiday .So many people don't have a clue about learning about the weather systems that effect a given country .I've educated many northern Hemisphere folk this year 2023 and told them they visiting NZ in the wrong summer year 😅

the poi is the objects the girls are using

Three thumbs up! If only I could! ( This ended up on the wrong video. Sorry!)

Yeah, Michael Jackson performed those moves at the grammies, says 😳 Boy. Boy,in the [movie] Boy. Boy performed those moves in front of Chardonnay at Raukokore school . Highway 35 Bay off plenty

you should react to different maori songs that might be fun i think 😁

Fantails are Kiwi lollies as well lol

Maori vowels are pronounced the same as Japanese. Hope that helps. You should check out some other music videos by bands like herbs etc.

You should try a Hangi, it's one of those must do. Ask your Maori friends for an invite. It is cooked in the end Earth. Avoid the retail shop ones they're far cry from the real Hangi.

regards

That song reminds me of when growing up in new zealand was kinda cool, business was booming and NZ on a whole was the place to be, the 80s and 90s certainly brought prosperity but most of all unity , thanks for the memories and yes cool song indeed, congrats on your marriage well done

Watch once were warriors 😂😂 Reaction video be like😮😮😮

Thank you for the trip to memory lane! Would love to see you out and about around the country - come down and see us in Dunedin and the far South! Also, you can't not go to Fiordland! 🤗

ha ha Poi e is an 1980's song ha ha ha

Where this video was filmed is obvious in the opening of the video. Mount Taranaki or Egmont as it was called in the day. The first Maori song in recent times to get on the chances.

Just a heads up 😜 Te Reo Maori ( The Maori Language ) is not a straight forward language. If you were to take a Maori sentence and translated word for word into English. It would NOT MAKE SENSE. So when people are translating Reo Maori they tend to have it come out like a poem. At least when it comes to Waiata ( songs ). Hope that cleared up any confusion or misconception. Also, Te Reo can vary in different Iwi ( tribes ) throughout the country. It's not a MASSIVE difference, we can still understand each other. It's just a matter of pronunciation. Byeeeeee✌️

Poi a big stone size of softball perfect half circle grove round them wasn't to be played with like that smashing leg bones ,other weapon training agility,oh I found one in a Maori trench were they didn't want to be inprisoned there all died accect for one baby girl a certain family from her I had problems with them as a kid a big stone got thrown at me I though it back over a slop apparently it hit him ,they told his dad , confronted my dad I got hideing,oh it was a school trip found poi,per say apparently they wecome people with it 🏁⚡🇳🇿the poi

No Kiwi can here this and not smile and sing along( (well to the chorus anyway LOL)

Poi E ... Patea Maori Club. Released in the 80's. I was in my early 20's. The Poi (the ball on the end of the string) is awesome, I always think it is better than Haka lol. Do you follow the NZ Netball Team 'Black Ferns'? They got everyone to make their own poi and bring it to the Games, in support of them. (There are online instructions on how to make one). Here is a really good poi vid, you might also like. :) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TxJKh-pOJhc.html

Hey Morgan, try watching "Footrot Flats A Dogs Tale" a New Zealand comic that got made into a movie. The movie was released November 86

a happier time lol New Zealand was always happy until our Government taught everyone to be pissed off with each other

She hot bro

the lady does the solos has a wonderful voice

Poi = "P(B)oy" E = "Air" so pronounced "Poy Air"

not just Maori the whole country embraced it

I was 16 and in the 5th form.

So thrilled you go married Morgan. Hug hugs to you both!

Many years ago just after i had my daughter,(a coupla months then) my husband and I had left Auckland 2days earlier visited whanau,(family) in New Plymouth and then carried on our travels across the island to Masterton to see my uncle,anyway we had just driven through Patea where this song is made and just out of Patea heading East is a long long stretch of road. As we drove along we saw in the distance a car coming towards us. As the car got closer we couldn't believe it but it was my sister her baby and her hmmm boyfriend lol. Im the middle of nowhere and the only 2 cars on the road. Photos were taken hugs laughs bla bla was surreal. Thing was 2 days earlier we were all together at my house in Auckland. They got lost unbeknown to me I was on a spontaneous trip. We bumped into each other.Bit long but if you read this far I'll always have it......

1 song I always change when it comes on. Prefer Rua Kenana

I heard this song so much growing up that I got sick of it and I'm still sick of it🤣

I heard this song before I love my cousin loves it

Listen to Kohitangata , its incredible

As a Moari this warms my heart. Arohanui

Lol the lady thats says taku poi e looks like my aunty kathy 2:53

This should be New Zealand’s national anthem

You got to be in the know lol..your depiction of this iconic song shows in your collective way of thinking and shows in your mannerism 🤣🤣

Indians????....huh?......Indigenous people of New Zealand known as "MAORI'....and the building is called a Marae.....nice to have u back home😁

He's at the pug girl ...with aunties and uncles having a lazy jug

"promo sm"

Poi E pronounced Poy ay

No who are you again lol

Living in New Zealand 🇳🇿 good on you for viewing Maori although you sound flippant. PLEASE be sensitive toward subject matter. Do your homework thoroughly before judging.

OK American girl your turn to sing a Maori song on RU-vid so us how you do 👍

They all died jumping off a cliff

Show some respect. American in New Zealand ..... learn the language ..... only then comment.