'Poi e' was significant as a Māori-language song that reached number one on the New Zealand music charts in 1984. Dalvanius Prime wrote the tune and Ngoi Pēwhairangi the lyrics. Record companies were not interested in a song in te reo Māori, so Prime set up Maui Records to record and promote 'Poi e'. It became a huge hit for the Pātea Māori Club.
Transcript
Te poi patua
Taku poi patua
Kia rite pa-para patua
Taku poi e
E rere ra e taku poi porotiti
Tītahataha ra, whakararuraru e
Porotakataka rā, poro hurihuri mai
Rite tonu ki te tiwaiwaka e
Ka parepare ra, pīoioi a
Whakahekeheke, e kia korikori e
Piki whakarunga ra, ma muinga mai a
Taku poi porotiti, taku poi e!
Poi e, whakatata mai
Poi e, kaua he rerekē
Poi e, kia piri mai ki au
Poi e, e awhi mai ra
Poi e, tāpekatia mai
Poi e, ō tāua aroha
Poi e, paiheretia ra
Poi, taku poi e
Rere atu taku poi, ti taha taha ra
Whakarunga whakararo, taku poi e
E rere ra e taku poi porotiti
Tītahataha ra, whakararuraru e
Porotakataka rā, poro hurihuri mai
Rite tonu ki te tiwaiwaka e
Ka parepare ra, pīoioi a
Whakahekeheke, e kia korikori e
Piki whakarunga ra, ma muinga mai a
Taku poi porotiti, taku poi e!
Poi e, whakatata mai
Poi e, kaua he rerekē
Poi e, kia piri mai ki au
Poi e, e awhi mai ra
Poi e, tāpekatia mai
Poi e, ō tāua aroha
Poi e, paiheretia ra
Poi, taku poi e
Poi e, whakatata mai
Poi e, kaua he rerekē
Poi e, kia piri mai ki au
Poi e, e awhi mai ra
Poi e, tāpekatia mai
Poi e, ō tāua aroha
Poi e, paiheretia ra
Poi, taku poi e
Poi, taku poi e
Poi, taku poi e
Rere atu taku poi, ti taha taha ra
Whakarunga whakararo, taku poi e
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