Kahutaiki Stirling-Boyles
Kahutaiki Stirling-Boyles
Through my paternal lines, I descend from Waitaha, Kāti Mamoe, Kāi Tahu, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou, and Ngāti Whātua. My maternal whakapapa connects me to Ngāti Rangi, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngā Rauru Kītahi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa ki Taupō, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, and Ngāpuhi. Together with my husband, Samuel Ewart Boyles - whose own lineage includes Te Rapuwai, Waitaha, Moriori, Kāti Kuri, Kāi Tahu, and Ngāti Koata - we are the proud parents of eight children, six of whom walk this earth with us today.
Creating under the name ‘Kahutaiki,’ it has been my greatest honour to compose oriori for six of our children. These compositions are more than songs; they are a taonga tuku iho. My hope is that these oriori encourage you and your whānau to embrace this practice, empowering your tamariki, hapū, and iwi for generations to come.
Arohanui e te iwi.
Te Ara Pounamu
Written by Kahutaiki Stirling-Boyles, presented by Kahutaiki Stirling-Boyles
Kupu:
Ahavah Te Ara Pounamu Lillian tō ingoa. Nā Ihoa i tākoha mai. Tēnei tāonga kia mātou. Harerūia, harerūia. Tēnei tāonga tāpu e. Harerūia, harerūia. Ahavah harerūia.
Whakamārama / Explanation:
After the loss of Jordaé it took a while to recover. I had sustained Post Natal Depression. The fear and deep desire to have a baby born alive weigh heavy on my mind. My son died December 6th 2016. On the day son was meant to be born (17th June 2017). My daughter came to me in a dream. She was a newborn and she told me 'I'm not him, don't judge me, just love'. I woke from the dream and I drenched the bed with sweat. My body gave birth to Jordaé. My body released his memory so that Ahavah could come. Ahavah is Hebrew and means love. My precious Tama-Ariki daughter was born the following year in 2018.
Her celebratory oriori is a victory song. In it I address her full name. I am praising my Creator, singing harerūia. She is a gift, a sacred gift. I end the song with her name Ahavah and with harerūia which in Hebrew means Praise Yah.
© Kahutāiki Stirling-Boyles