Panuku songbirds (manu tioriori) in Park Hyatt

Wednesday saw the Panuku Development Auckland waiata Roopu head down to the Park Hyatt Hotel on Wynyard Quarter to celebrate a milestone in the construction – the internal scaffolding in the atrium was removed, showing the beautiful walls behind. We sang the well-known waiata, Te Aroha, which was familiar to many and had some of the construction crew singing along.

 General Manager South Pacific Fu Wah Richard Aitken was on site and patiently waited as the waiata was sung a number of times, and agreed (though we won’t hold him to it) when it was joked that we’d be back for the opening.

The highlight of the outing was after we left, as we were standing outside, we could hear lines of Te Aroha floating out of the Park Hyatt, sung by construction workers.

The Panuku Waiata Roopu

The Panuku Waiata Roopu, formed in 2015, is made up of Panuku staff from across the organisation and has been practising ever since. Waiata are an integral part of any whakatau (welcome), karakia (blessing) or formalities at a marae.

The Waiata Roopu is often called upon to provide assistance to tautoko (support) speakers on these occasions.

WAIATA LYRICS

Te aroha
Te whakapono
Me te rangimārie
Tātou tātou e

Love
Hope
Peace
For us all