Doco to show roots of Maori hit song

It wouldn't be Paepae in the Park without a performance by the Patea Maori Club. PHOTO/ FILE

Who could forget Poi E, the Maori song that was New Zealand's number one for four weeks in 1984 and reached number three again in 2010, when Taika Waititi used it in the film Boy?

It's 30 years since the song was a chart-topper for the late Dalvanius Prime and the Patea Maori Club. The club and the Prime whanau have now agreed in principle to work with Auckland-based Jawbone Productions to produce a feature documentary on Poi E, the Patea Maori Club and Dal, director Tuteri Rangihaeata said.

It will screen on Maori Television, and is co-funded by the New Zealand Film Commission.

The film-makers have already made several visits to Patea and Hawera to progress the documentary. Photographs, video, objects and documents associated with Poi E were collected, Patea Maori Club chairperson Waimarie Cassidy said, and people were interviewed about events 30 years ago.

Back in 1984 the club was huge but had no money to record the song.

Mr Prime went around the town's businesses, asking each for $100. Patea butcher Grant Hurley was one who gave without hesitation.

The famed entertainer couldn't interest record companies in the project, so recorded it on his own Maui Records label.

Mrs Cassidy is one of about 20 who were there for the recording and is still part of the club. She recalls setting off for Auckland and Mascot Studios.

"About 30 of us piled on buses and cars to go up to the recording for it." Patea's freezing works had been closed in 1982, leaving many jobless. It was a tough time for the town.

Ngoi Pewhairangi wrote the words for Poi E, all in te reo Maori, and Mr Prime put them to a catchy tune.

"Our people were losing the language and that song was really for the younger generation to find their identity. It was mainly to get the kids, through music, to pick up the language again.

"He knew that our kids loved hip-hop and funky music," Mrs Cassidy said.

Patea Maori Club is still going strong. Janine and Andy Maruera are new leaders. There are about 30 new young members and the older ones join them at practices every Monday night.

The club always performs at Patea's Waitangi Day celebration, Paepae in the Park, and it competes in kapa haka nationals as Aotea Utanganui.

Members who were there at the time of Poi E have scattered, but return for special events.

Mr Prime died in 2002, and is buried at Tutahi Church in Nukumaru.