Oriori
Specific waiata sung to pēpi while in the whare tangata of their hākui (mother's womb) are known as oriori. These chants were performed by our tīpuna for labouring wāhine and can also be recited during a child’s upbringing, or to observe the death of a child, according to scholar Amster Reedy. Oriori would begin at conception, and sometimes to help the woman to conceive. They can be used to soothe the labouring mother as a form of pain relief, and they can also be sung to lull the pēpi to sleep.
On this website you can hear examples of various kinds of oriori, the main section is for pēpi and their whānau, and another section is for whānau of pēpi who didn’t make it into this realm or were with their whānau for a short time, eg. by miscarriage or stillbirth.
Select an oriori from the listings below to hear the oriori, interviews by the performer and/or composer and to download lyrics..
Oriori ki Te Ao Marama
These are oriori for pēpi living in Te Ao Marama, Te Ao Tūroa.
Click on a link to hear the oriori, read the lyrics and for more information.
He Kura āku presented by Kare Tipa
Oriori presented by Kerepeti and Savanah
Karakia presented by Ariana Stevens
Karakia presented by Solomon Rahui
Oriori presented by Ariana Tikao
Oriori presented by Karuna Thurlow
Oriori presented by Holly Tikao-Weir
Oriori presented by Lynne Te Aika
Oriori presented by Rānui Ngārimu
Oriori written by Moana Tipa
Oriori written by Rua McCallum
Oriori written by Hana Merenea O’Regan
Oriori presented by Kalinia Te Rahui
Oriori presented by Kahutaiki Stirling-Boyles
Oriori ki Te Pō
Ko rātou kua wheturangitia
Oriori to aid the loss of a pēpi for whānau.
Click on a link to hear the oriori, read the lyrics and for more information.
Oriori presented by Ariana Tikao
Oriori presented by Charisma Rangipunga
Oriori presented by Kahutaiki Stirling-Boyles