Maori
songs - Kiwi songs - Home
| In 1879 the Government commissioned John
White to compile pre-European Māori knowledge, history and
tradition, including prayers, myths, songs, genealogies
and proverbs; and the first six bi-lingual volumes of The
Ancient History of the Maori were published between
1887 and 1890. This is sample of Vol II. |
| I. IO
Ngati
Ruanui |
I. IO |
Te Io-tahae he
tohu aitua, mate ranei, ora ranei, ki te mea ka haere te
tira haere i uta ranei, i te moana ranei, a ka araia e te
ua, e te hau, ki te mea ka tupanapana te Io i te
ringa ranei i te waewae ranei, a tata tonu ki te tinana
te tupanapana, he aitua mate a ki te mea kei ko noa
atu te tupanapana, kahore i tata ki te tinana,
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Io was a sign of good or evil.
(The involuntary twitching of any part of the human body was
recognized as Io). If a company of travellers by land or sea
were detained by rain or wind, and a twitching in
the middle of the arm or leg were felt by the chief, or
priest, or another person of note, such Io was an omen of
evil to the company;
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Kapakapa,
kapakapa tu taku wairua, ki te Ao
Tapiri tu, he maunga.
Hekeheke iho i runga o Rehia.
Tuhi te uira, raparapa te uira, ko ana hau.
* * * * *
Kaore (kahore) hoki nga uhi nei,
Nga Kai nei, nga Taro nei
Ka mareretia e te tikitiki O Wahie-roa.
He
karakia whakatopatopa kumara.
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Trembling,
trembling strikes my spirit, to the
Top of Tapiri; a mountain.
Descending from the heights of Rehia
Lightnings flash and winds descend,
* * * * * * *
How many are the yams
and kumara and taro
fall from out the girdle of Wahieroa....
Incantation
whilst planting kumara.
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II. RONA
Rarawa, Ngati Hau, Ngai Tahu, Ngapuhu
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II. RONA
(six different
tribal versions) |
| Ka taka ki
taua po nei, ka mea taua wahine nei kia tahuna he hangi kai
ma ana tamariki, a kahore kau he wai hei whakamaku i ana repaki
... |
One night a woman had to cook
some food for her children, and, not having a vessel of
water near to wet her worn-out baskets that
covered the food in the umu... |
Tera
te uira, ka hiko ki te rangi.
E kakai rua ana, na runga o Tau-whare.
Kaore i a nei, ko te tohu o te mate.
Unuhia noatia, te ata o Wharo;
Te whakaaro koe, ka nui o hara.
Takiri whakarere, te patu i to ringa.
Te
tangi a Papa-hia mo Te-Huhu.
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Darts
the lightning in the heaven,
And flashes, darting twofold o'er the hill Tauwhare.
How great it was, evil omen thou of death,
Of spirits now released from Wharo!
Now you meditate on evils done,
Put down, release the war-club from your fingers
Lament
of Papahia for Te Huhu.
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III. TAMA-NUI-ARAKI
Ngai
Tahu
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III. TAMA-NUI-ARAKI |
| Ko te tikanga o Tama-nui-araki,
ko Tuteko-kohuraki te tamaiti, a Tama he tangata haerere... |
Tama-nui-araki took to wife
Rukutia, and begat Tutekokohuraki. Tama was a great wanderer....
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Kaore
te aroha, e komingomingo nei,
Te hoki noa atu, i tarawahi awa.
He kore tohunga mana, hei wehe ki te wai,
Kia hemo ake ai, te aroha i au.
Ko te
tangi a nga tamariki tokorua, i te arahanga ai ia
raua,
kia patua e Hongi Hika,
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Oh,
how love has bound my heart,
And kept me slave on this side of the river
Oh, that a priest would enchantments use,
And rid me of the love I feel!
Lament
sunt by two youths, as they were led
to be executie by Hone Hika
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| IV. NIWAREKA,
HAPOPO, ME PAOA
Ngai
Tahu |
IV. NIWAREKA,
HAPOPO, AND PAOA |
| Ka noho a Rangi-roa raua ko
Taki-reia, ka homai te rongo o te wahine o Niwa-reka, te
tamahine taua wahine na Hapopo... |
Rangiroa and Takireia, while
living quietly in their home, heard of the fame of Niwareka,
the daughter of Hapopo...
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Nei
ka noho, kapakapa tu ana,
Te tau o taku manawa.
E tia, tenei au e tama ma,
Ko te aitanga a Tane, e tuohu i uta ra,
E piko nei me te Mamaku,
ki aku tamariki
Kei whea ra e, e te tamaiti, i karangatia ai
“Nau mai e tama”
Ka riro ra ia i te taiheke nui.
Ko te
tangi a Te-ika-here-ngutu, mo ana tamariki,
i mate taua etahi,
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I silent sit as
my heart throbs
For my children;
As now I bow my head
May deem me but a forest-tree from distant land.
I bow my head like the tree-fern,
And weep for my children.
O my child! so often called
“Come, O my child!”
Gone! yes, with the mighty flood.
Lament
of Ika-here-ngutu for his children,
some of whom were killed in war.
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| V. MAUI
TAMA Ngai Tahu |
V. YOUNG
MAUI
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Ka moe a Mata-ora ia Niwa-reka,
tana ko Papaku, tana ko Takataka-te-rangi, tana ko
Hine-ti-tama, tana ko Muri-ranga-whenua, tana ko Taranga,
tana ko Maui-tiki-tiki-a-taranga.
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Niwareka slept with Mataora, and
begat Papaku, who begat Takatakaterangi, who begat
Hineti-tama, who begat Murirangawhenua, who begat Taranga,
who begat Maui Tikitikiataranga.
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E
hara i te taru hou te mate
Mate mai i mua ai a Maui.
Na te Pata-tai i kata, ka motu ki roto.
Ka puta te rehurehu, ka rere te Ti-wai-waka,
Ki runga ki te tihi o hamiti.
Mou ra te he, ko te rongo ki te wai;
Ko te rongo ki te pai (pae), ka rere kei waho.
Kihai mana i mua i o tupuna,
Porotiti noa e Ka-hae.
Ka he te ao, Haere atu ra e.
He waiata
tangi na te pouwaru mo tana tone, i te wa i mahara ai
aia, ki te kata a te Pata-tai raua ko te Pi-waka-waka, i
mate ai a Maui i a Hinenuitepo
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Death
is not a new thing
Death has existed ever since Maui died.
The Pata-tai laughed at him and he was cut in two.
So dusk of eve came on, and Ti-wai-waka flew,
And alighted on the dung-heap.
And then for thee the news of the others
The news of the destruction
In ancient times thy ancestors would act; but now
You are spinning like Ka-hae,
so breathes the world. Farewell—
A
widow's lament for her husband, as she thought of the
birds Patatai and Piwaiwaka, whose laughter at Maui
entering Hinnuitepo caused his death.
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| VI.
MAUI
MANU Ngai Tahu
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VI.
MAUI
THE BIRD
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Ka rere haere
a Maui ki ia maara, ki ia maara, a ka tau aia ki runga ki te
koo a Ta-raka e tu ana i waenga o te maara, ka kite a
Ta-raka, i a Maui, ka mea atu a Ta-raka “No runga koe.” Ka
mea atu a Maui, “Ae,” ka mea atu ano a Maui, “Homai to koo
ki au,” a ka tohutohu a Maui ki aia, a ka waiata i tana
waiata me te ako a Maui ia Ta-raka ki te mahi tika e koia ai
te whenua ki te koo. Koia nei tana waiata:—
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He flew from place to place in
the cultivation till he alighted on the spade belonging to
Taraka, which was standing in the middle of one of the
gardens. Taraka saw him, and asked, “Are you from above?”
Maui said, “Yes,” and then asked "Give the spade to me."
Maui then began to teach Ta-raka how to dig the ground, and
chanted this song as he worked:—
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Koia koia,
ko Tara-rau-riki,
Rau-riki; e ki mai Maui
Ka hara i te whitu, me te waru;
Tukua te tau ki raro,
Tatai te aro Raki
E taua e, koia koia,
Manu teria, manu werohia,
I te poho e Ta-raka.
Ka tau rere, ka tau mai te ruhei
E tau koia, moi moi,
Whiti rere tahi wahine,
Ka moea i te ao,
Ka rua wahine, ka toru kia tupua,
Kahore, moi moi,
Ko au peha ake, ki taku whenua nei;
Ko ruku mahi a au te tau arakia
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Yes,
yes, the first shoots—
of puha, of which Maui says
It is wrong to plant the seventh and eighth moon.
Let the year roll round
Plan for the beginning of the dry.
Then—yes, then, then
digging bird, stabbing bird
in the mound of the best kumara
The year flies, days of weariness arrive,
Then—yes, then call the dogs,
And with sudden fright let the widow
Stand awe-struck in the world
Let the women start to see the strange shapes.
But, no: call the dogs.
I once again revisit my home, and join
In labour of abundant years. |
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| VII. MAUI
RAUA KO MAHUIKA Ngati
Hau |
VII. MAUI
AND MAHU-I-KA |
| Na kei a Mahuiika te ahi, i ona
ringaringa me ona waewae. Ka rongo a Maui ka haere aia ki te
whakamate ia Mahuka ara ki te nukarau.... |
WHEN Maui heard of his
ancestress Mahu-i-ka (the goddess who possessed fire in her
hands and feet), he went to play his tricks on her.... |
Puna,
puna, puna mai mua na,
Puna mai roto na,
Ko Maui-tiki-tiki-o-taranga.
Ko koe, kia turia e koe,
Turia te hume o te maro,
Pepenu te maro.
Hou-taiki mua o te maro
Hou-taiki roto te maro
* * * *
Tena te po, ka whiwhi
Tena te po, ka tata
Tena te po hira atu na,
Aua te ngaro
He ngaro taki tawhito.
He karakia
whakakakahu maro na te toa.
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Let
the fountain gush forth,
Gush forth from within.
Maui-tiki-tiki-o-taranga
it is you, I'm being turned into you.
Arrange the crotch-band of the war-belt
Besmear the war-belt
The front of the war-belt protects
The girdle of the war-belt protects
* * *
* * * *
Darkness settles down,
And nearer draws and deepens.
Yes, darkness now envelops all,
Far advanced the concealment
All the ancients are hid.
Incantation
when a warrior is clothing himself.
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| VIII. IRAWARU
RAUA KO HINAURI Arawa
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VIII. MAUI'S
BROTHER-IN-LAW & SISTER
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| Na ko Hinauri te tuahine o Maui,
he wahine pai rawa aia, a ka moe i a Ira-waru. A ka haere a
Maui raua ko tana taokete ki te moana ki te hi ika, a ka
hore he ika i mau i te matau a Maui, he matau ngongore
hoki tana. . . |
Hinauri, a sister of Maui, was a
most beautiful woman, who was taken to wife by Ira-waru.
Maui and his brother-in-law went to sea to fish, but Maui
did not catch any fish because his hook was barbless.
. .
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Whakarongorongo
ana te taringa,
Ko nga tarutaru e maha,
O te pukohu o te ngahere,
O te wao nui a Tane:
Ko Kiwi, ko Weka
Ko Moho, ko Kokako,
Ko te whanau a Kura-tongia
Kia hara mai Maui-hanga-rau.
Kia takahia tona taokete:
Ko Tara-humehume,
Waewae huruhuru,
Moimoi kuri, moi, au.
He
Whakaaraara Pa
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Hearken, open your senses
how abundant the small plants
in the fog of the forest,
of the great forest of Tane
The kiwi, weka,
takahe and kokako,
His progeny spangled with red.
But the deceitful Maui came
And broke the back of his brother-in-law
Putting his tail between his legs
And giving him hairy-legs
"Here doggy. Moi moi." "Woof.”
Watchman's
chant alerting the pa.
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| IX. TINIRAU
Ngati Awa |
IX. TINIRAU |
Ka moe a Tini-rau ia
Hine-te-iwaiwa, ka puta ta raua tamaiti, no te haputanga ka
whakarerea a Hine e Tini-rau ka haere aia ki te tahi o ana
wahine, a ka whakaaro a Hine ka tata aia te whanau ka ngare
atu aia i nga mokai hei tiki i a Tini-rau, kia hiia he ika
ma Hine e Tini-rau. . .
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Tinirau took Hine-te-iwaiwa to
wife; but he soon left her, and went to live with another
woman. When she knew that she was about to become a mother,
Hine-te-iwaiwa sent some of her dependents to fetch Tinirau,
that he might procure some fish for her. . .
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. . Raparapa-te-uira, hokaia Tini-rau,
Te moana ka tere,
i raua ai koe ra i.
Kihai koe i raua, i Te-whanga-paraoa
Ko Whaka-moe-toka.
Ka pau te tipona,
Ki te harakeke mata.
Tau atu ko te Urunga e i,
Tau atu ko te urunga e Pou-a-hina.
I poua iho ra, te pou ki Raro-tonga,
Kia tina, kia whena.
Ka tere te papa, ki Nu-kume,
Hawa-iki e i
He tangi
me nga tupapaku mate parekura
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. . Let Tini-rau arise and fly,
And skim along the ocean waves.
'Twas there you met the evil blow,
And not at Whanga-paraoa.
But at Whaka-moe-toka
They bound with new-cut flax
Thy mangled corse, and laid it as in sleep
Where Pou and Hine dwelt.
And loud with chant they cried,
And offerings made to gods of Raro-tonga,
Asking stern revenge and retribution dire
O'er all the world—to Nuku-mea
And e'en to Hawa-i-ki.
Lament
for relatives killed in battle
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| X. HINE-I-TE-PUWHA
Ngai Tahu |
X. HINE-I-TE-PUWHA
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| Na Rangi te pa i waiho
te pa i te tuahine i a Hine-i-te-puwha, hoatu taua pa ki te
taina kia Tari-makao-roa, a ka kaiangia e Ra-kura, a
ka ui atu a Tari-makao-roa kia Ra-kura “Kei a koe pea taku
pa?” ka ki mai a Ra-kura “Kahore i au.”. . |
The chief Rangi owned a paua-shell
barracouta
lure, which he had left with his sister
Hineitepuwha, who lent it to her younger sister
Tarimakaoroa. It was stolen from her by Rakura. Tarimakaoroa
asked Rakura if he had the hook; he said, “No.”. . |
Tu ake au
ki runga nei,
Ki te whare hukahuka no Tanga-roa;
Tanga-roa i whatia i Ahu-nuku-tai-maroro.
Orooro te toki na Hine-tu-a-hoanga,
Kaore ko au ko Rata e kimi ana,
E hahau ana i te awa i Pikopiko-i-whiti.
Mate iho ana ki Maunga-roa,
Mate mai ai Ko-whiti-nui
Ta taua rangi.
Mate mai ai, i a Rata-wahie-roa,
Ta taua rangi.
E Ri, e Ri e, e Ra, e Ra e.
Te tawariwari au ki te riri.
He tau mo
te waka hou, me ka toia mai i te ngahere
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I
stand
on the house of fame of Tanga-roa—
Of Tanga-roa, whose billows thrash the coast.
Sharpen the axe of Hine-tu-a-hoanga,
Whilst I, Rata,
seek the river Piko-piko-i-whiti.
We kill our foes at Maunga-roa,
And also at Ko-whiti-nui.
This is our day of victory,
And beaten are the foes of Rata-wahie-roa.
This is our day of victory.
Through thickets and in blazing sun
We nimbly rush to meet the battle-charge.
Chant
sung for a new canoe, when it is dragged out of the
forest
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| XI.
NGA WAKA TUATAHI Ngati
Awa |
XI.
THE
FIRST VOYAGING WAKA
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| Ko nga tupuna o Ngati Awa, me o
te Whakatohea, me o nga iwi i Whakatane, i eke mai ia
Mataatua . . . |
The ancestors of the Ngati Awa,
and the Whakatohea of Whakatane, came in the Mataatua . . .
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Tenei
ano ra te rangona ake nei.
Tai-nui Te-Arawa, Mata-tua,
Kura-hau-po, Toko-maru
Nga waka tena o tupuna,
I hoe ai i te moana nui
E takoto nei. Hotu-roa,
Nga-toro, Tama-te-kapua,
Rongo-kako, Tama-tea
Nga tangata o Te-arawa, e, i.
I whakapiraratia ki nga whenua nei.
He
waiata mo Te-tahuri, mo te tama a te Whata-nui
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We
have heard from days of old
That Tai-nui, Arawa, and Mata-tua,
Kura-hau-po and Toko-maru,
Were the canoes in which our ancestors
Sailed across the mighty ocean.
And lay down here. Hotu-roa,
Nga-toro, Tama-te-kapua
Rongo-kako, Tama-tea
The people of Te Arawa, have now
Been scattered across these lands.
A song
for Te Tahuri, the son of Te Whatanui.
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