The definitive treasury of Māori waiata, preserving the essence of language, culture and soul in Aotearoa – available now in a 4-volume set.

Over a period of forty years Sir Apirana Ngata, distinguished leader and scholar, collected and recorded hundreds of songs and chants from the iwi of Aotearoa, which became the four volumes of Ngā Mōteatea, with translations and annotations by Ngata, Pei Te Hurinui Jones (Vols.1–3) and Hirini Moko Mead (Vol. 4). 

This national treasure is the largest and most comprehensive collection of Māori waiata and a unique contribution to New Zealand poetry. It is a rich resource for continuing research and scholarship in many fields, offers prime texts in the teaching of Māori language, literature and tribal history and serves as inspiration for contemporary composition and performance. 

In 2005, these landmark editions were completely redesigned and republished in association with the Polynesian Society, preserving the integrity of Ngata and Jones’ original work while updating typography and language conventions, correcting errors, and adding macrons for modern usage. These editions also includes audio CDs of selected waiata from the Archive of Māori and Pacific Music at the University of Auckland, bringing the voices of the ancestors to life.

This 4-volume set includes:

• Ngā Mōteatea The Songs: Part One, by Apirana Ngata and translated by Pei Te Hurinui Jones
• Ngā Mōteatea The Songs: Part Two, by Apirana Ngata and translated by Pei Te Hurinui Jones
• Ngā Mōteatea The Songs: Part Three, by Apirana Ngata and translated by Pei Te Hurinui Jones 
• Ngā Mōteatea The Songs: Part Four, by Apirana Ngata and translated by Hirini Moko Mead 

Author

Sir Apirana Ngata (Ngāti Porou, 1874–1950) was the leading Māori figure of his day, a land reformer, politician and scholar. He made a vital contribution to the revival of Māori culture in the early years of the twentieth century and is the subject of a biography by Ranginui Walker.

Translators

Pei Te Hurinui Jones (Ngāti Matakore, 1898–1976) was brought up in the southern King Country by his maternal great-uncle Te Hurinui Te Wano and was ideally qualified to pursue his lifelong interest in oral history of his mother’s people. He was a prolific writer in te reo Māori and a leading authority on Tainui traditions. 

Dr Hirini Moko Mead (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Tūhourangi) is a prominent Māori writer and commentator. Author of over 70 books, papers and articles, he was Foundation Professor of Māori Studies at Victoria University and was closely involved in establishing the Māori university Te Whare Wānangā o Awanuiārangi in Whakatāne.

A scholar of rare expertise in Māori language and culture, Hirini was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007 for his services to Māori and to education.