Paraire Tomoana

Paraire Henare Tomoana (died 1946), known as Friday, was a prominent Māori leader in the Hawke's Bay region. He was born in Waipatu or Pakowhai, the son of Henare Tomoana. He was educated at Te Aute College, and was a member of the Young Māori Party group from the college.

He edited the Māori newspaper Toa Takatini and composed several well-known Māori songs: "E Pari Ra", "Hoera Te Wake Nei," "Hoki Hoki", and the one and only "Pokarekare Ana". He was an Anglican lay reader. He was acknowledged when he died as an authority on Māori lore and on weather predictions using Māori methods. He had attended every important Māori gathering in the lower North Island during the previous 40–50 years.

The year of his birth is uncertain; the obituary says he was aged 78 i.e. born c1868, but the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography has 1874-75.

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