Blue Smoke

"Blue Smoke" (also known by its Māori name of "Kohu Auwahi") is a 1949 song written by Ruru Karaitiana and performed by Pixie Williams. Karaitiana wrote the song in 1940 while serving in World War Two as part of the 28th Māori Battalion, with the song being performed by the battalion's concert party throughout the war. After unsuccessfully trying to sell the song to recording companies in London, Karaitiana recorded the song after his return to New Zealand, with a quintet he had assembled the previous year as backing for Pixie Williams on vocals. Upon its release, "Blue Smoke" became the first commercial record ever produced and recorded entirely in New Zealand, and the first record of the TANZA (To Assist New Zealand Artists) label. The song attracted considerable interest within New Zealand, topping radio charts for six weeks and selling over 20,000 copies in its first year alone and over 50,000 total. This, along with the song's position as the first to be locally produced and recorded, has caused "Blue Smoke" to develop a strong legacy in the years since its release, with its creators inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame in 2019. Writing and composition Ruru Karaitiana first wrote "Blue Smoke" in 1940 while on board the , which was being used as a troop transport to carry New Zealand soldiers to World War Two. While crossing the Indian Ocean, a sergeant pointed out to Karaitiana that the ship's blue smoke was heading "in the right direction" back towards New Zealand. Karaitiana later described this encounter as having "put the song in [his] lap", with it being turned into song lyrics by some accounts as quickly as within half an hour. The words were set to a melody which Karaitiana had been working on prior to his deployment, noted for its superficial similarities to that of the 1928 song "Carolina Moon". The song was originally written in Karaitiana's first language of te reo Māori, before being rewritten with English lyrics while he was on leave in London. Early performances "Blue Smoke" was first performed within a day or two of being written, as part of a concert on board the Aquitania. After failing to sell the song to record companies upon his arrival in London, Karaitiana continued to perform the song as part of the Māori Battalion's concert band.