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Story: Traditional Māori songs – waiata tawhito

Singing a traditional waiata

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Singing a traditional waiata

This whānau sing a waiata tawhito (traditional waiata). The effort put into the physical performance is as important as that put into the singing – as is evident even in a still photograph.

Using this item

Penguin New Zealand

Reference: Anne Salmond, Hui: a study of Māori ceremonial gatherings. Auckland: A. H & A. W. Reed, 1976

by Jeremy Salmond

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

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How to cite this page

Rawinia Higgins and Arini Loader, Traditional Māori songs – waiata tawhito – Types of waiata, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/44223/singing-a-traditional-waiata (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Rawinia Higgins and Arini Loader, published 12 February 2014.