As Aotearoa reflects on its musical and cultural history, the legacy of Maewa Kaihau is being remembered as both influential and, for many years, overlooked.
Born Louisa Flavell in Whangaroa in 1879, Maewa Kaihau was of Ngāpuhi descent and would go on to become one of the country’s earliest recognised Māori composers and music teachers.
Her work helped bridge Māori and Pākehā worlds through music at a time when few Māori composers were being published or widely performed. She composed songs in both te reo Māori and English, bringing Māori sound and storytelling into concert settings and public performance.
Kaihau is best known for her contribution to the waiata “Pō Atarau,” later known internationally as “Now Is the Hour.” Building on an existing melody, she reshaped the song in the early 20th century, adding lyrics and refining it into a powerful expression of farewell.
The song became deeply embedded in Aotearoa life, especially during times of departure. It was sung to farewell Māori soldiers heading to war, and later became a staple at gatherings, dances, and moments of parting.
Kaihau’s version of the song eventually reached global audiences. By the late 1940s, artists including Gracie Fields and Bing Crosby had recorded it, turning the waiata into an international hit while retaining its roots in Māori expression.
Despite this global success, Kaihau’s contribution was not always fully recognised. She sold the rights to the song for a modest sum in the 1930s, and disputes over authorship of the melody meant her role was sometimes overshadowed.
Beyond “Now Is the Hour,” she composed other works that helped elevate Māori music into wider audiences, including songs performed on radio and in classical settings.
Maewa Kaihau died in 1941, but her influence continues to resonate. Her music remains a powerful example of cultural connection, blending traditions and telling stories that continue to shape Aotearoa’s identity.
Today, her legacy lives on every time “Pō Atarau” is sung – a reminder of the woman whose voice helped carry a nation’s farewell to the world.
