Māori have an extensive tradition of song and dance, with a broad range of styles. Waiata were written to mark important events such as the birth of a child or the death of a chief. Waiata serve many functions. They can be used to support a whaikōrero (formal speech) or sung to express grief after a death. Waiata were used to help teach children, to urge people to take up a cause, or to mourn in times of loss. Waiata can record a tribe’s past by referring to ancestors, events and places. They are sometimes used to settle historical debates. Traditional waiata are still sung on marae and at gatherings. New waiata continue to be written, often about current concerns.
The waiata below is a local waiata written by Na Piri Sciascia concerning the voyaging waka Takitimu.
Waiatatia:
Waiatatia te maunuhanga mai i Hawaiki – (x2)
He waka tipua, He waka atua
Te waka Tākitimu e!
Waiatatia te maunuhanga mai i Hawaiki – (x2)
He maiangi nui, He maiangi roa
He maiangi tipua
Whakaea te waka ki runga ki te karemoana – (x2)
Tū-hikitia rā, Tū-hāpainga rā,
Tū-whakaeaea e
Rauawatia te waka o Tamatea- Arikinui – (x2)
Tōia mai te waka, Utaina mai te waka
Kauria te moana e
Ngā tai poroniga, Ngā tai whakaruturutu
Ngā tai o Ruamano e
He rei ngā niho, He terenga parāoa
Ko Hine-makehurangi e
Ko Hine-kōrito, Ko Hine-kōtea
Te uru o Paikea e
Ko Tamatea
E tu pawhai ake
Ko Tākitimu
E tu pawhai ake – (x3)
He waka tipua, he waka atua
Te waka Tākitimu e!
Tai aroha
Ko te aroha anō he wai (Love is like water)
E pupū ake ana (continually bubbling up)
He awa e māpuna mai ana (a river that will keep flowing )
i roto i te whatū-manawa (x2) (from within the very seat of the emotions)
Ko tona mātāpuna he hōhonu (From a very deep source)
Ā ina ia ka rere anō (x2) (it will keep on rising)
He tai timu (an ebb tide)
He tai pari (an incoming tide)
He tai ope (a forceful tide)
He tai roa (an expansive tide)
He tai nui (x3) (a full tide)
He hōnore
He hōnore, he korōria (Honour and glory)
maungarongo ki te whenua (Peace on earth)
whakaaro pai e (and good thoughts)
ki ngā tāngata katoa. (to all people)
Ake, ake, ake, ake, amine (Forever, amen)
te Atua te piringa (It is God who draws us together)
tōku oranga (and sustains us)
Learn our club karakia and waiata
Karakia
As part of the tikanga of Waka Ama, karakia (prayer) is recited before we engage with activities on the water.
Waiata
Waiata serve many functions. They can be used to support a whaikōrero (formal speech) or sung to express grief after a death.
Haka
Haka are a large subclass of waiata and a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment.