Parihaka - Tim Finn and The Herbs

Today for Social Studies we have started on a new unit, we are now focusing on Parihaka. Parihaka is a community in the Taranaki region of New Zealand, which is located between Mount Taranaki and the Tasman Sea. We had to explore what happened, what were the impacts and the songs made for Parihaka. The song we were given to explore was called "Parihaka" by Tim Finn.

Song: Parihaka

By: Tim Finn & The Herbs

My friend, My friend, I hate to see you suffer,

Events conspire to bring us to our knees,

My friend, my friend, you've taken this the wrong way, 

Rise up, defend yourself, never give in,

Look to the sky, the spirit of Te Whiti,

The endless tide is murmuring his name. 

I know Te Whiti will never be defeated,

And even at the darkest hour,

His presence will remain.

I'll sing to you the song of Parihaka.

Te Whiti he used the language of the spirit,

Then stood accused, the madman and his dream,

He saw the train go roaring through the tunnel,

He heard the voice travel on the magic wire,

But he loved the silence of the river,

He watched the dog piss on the cannon's wheel.

I know Te Whiti will never be defeated,

And even at the darkest hour,

His presence will remain.

I'll sing to you the song of Parihaka.

One day you'll know the truth,

They can't pull out the roots,

Come and take me home,

To weep for my lost brother.

They gather still, the clouds of Taranaki,

His children's children wearing the white plume,

So take me for the sins of these sad islands,

The wave still breaks on the rock of Rouhotu.

And when you taste the salt that's on your pudding,

And when you taste the sugar in your soup,

Think of Te Whiti, he'll never be defeated,

Even at the darkest hour,

His presence will remain,

I'll sing for you the song of Parihaka,

Come to Parihaka,

Weep for my lost brother,

The spirit of nonviolence,

Has come to fill the silence, Come to Parihaka.

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What was the main message of this song & what line explains their passive resistance method?

The main message of the songs was to tell about Parihaka and how it made huge impacts to other people who went through this. The line "The spirit of nonviolence, Has come to fill the silence, Come to Parihaka" shows how they showed passive resistance without any bloodshed or fighting, they did this without violence. 

What does 'you can't pull out the roots' refer to?

This line 'you can't pull out the roots' meant that the British couldn't snatch or take their heritage or their culture away from them, the British couldn't remove them from Parihaka.

Give evidence of their determination & how does this song show the significance of Parihaka?

"Rise up, defend yourself, never give in,"

This part of the song shows and tells how the British tried to bring down their culture, their heritage and remove the Māori from their land, but the Māori people didn't give up easily and fought for their land without showing violence or bloodshed. But instead, show passive resistance meaning no violence or brutal force against the soldiers, simply resisting to fight but show peace to them.

"I know Te Whiti will never be defeated,

And even at the darkest hour,

His presence will remain."

This part gives the hint that he will be remembered in these times and onward where Te Whiti will be remembered by everyone, especially the Māori who got affected by this harsh event, that meaning that even though this happened in the past doesn't mean he has to be forgotten of how he handled the situation where his land, his culture and his heritage taken from them by the government by encouraging his own people of Parihaka to defend their land by using friendly and peaceful methods.