Story: Traditional Māori songs – waiata tawhito

Dawn, Mt Hikurangi

Dawn, Mt Hikurangi

Early on a winter morning, the sun rises over the peak of Mt Hikurangi, the highest point on the East Coast and the sacred mountain of Ngāti Porou. Hineruhi, a female deity associated with the dawn, is evoked in ancient waiata. An outstanding performance of waiata by a woman might cause her to be compared to Hineruhi.

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How to cite this page:

Rawinia Higgins and Arini Loader, 'Traditional Māori songs – waiata tawhito - Origins of waiata', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/44163/dawn-mt-hikurangi (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Rawinia Higgins and Arini Loader, published 22 Oct 2014