Page guide:

Oma rāpeti,
Flick
Anei rā ngā mahi e
Ā haka mana
Kua riro C. A. T.
Tahora nui
He pipi māu e hine
Mā is white
Kapokapo whetū iti
Haere mai te manuhiri
Pāpā hipi mangu
Hei tira tira
I ngā wā o mua rā
Motokā iti rawa e
Me kā harikoa koe
Whakawhiti rori
Haere rā e hine
 Tangi tangi pere Jingle bells
Haere Mai a Hana Koko
He rā whānau koa ki a koe Happy birthday to you
He tangata pai rawa ia For he's a jolly good fellow
One day a taniwha
Ngā Rā o Te Wiki Mahunga, pakihiwi... Heads, shoulders.. .
Kei hea te tuna?
Korikori
Te Matuku i Hea?Where's the bittern from?
Flick

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Waiata for Pre-schoolers

Most of these were copied from the late H T Rikihana's wonderful resource book, Waiata Māori, with grateful thanks.

You can hear many of them on this CD sold by the Hataitai Playcentre. CLICK CD

Oma rāpeti

 Key of D. Tune: Run Rabbit Run.
Oma rāpeti, oma rāpeti
Oma, oma, oma
Oma rāpeti, oma rāpeti
Pūhia te kaiako

Pako pako pako
Ko te tangi ō te pū
Oma rāpeti, oma rāpeti
Oma, oma, oma 		      Run rabbit, run rabbit
Run, run, run
Run rabbit, run rabbit
Shoot the teacher

Bang, bang, bang
goes the farmer's gun
Run rabbit, run rabbit
Run, run, run

Anei rā ngā mahi e

 Key of E
Anei rā ngā mahi e
Runga matou, maui e
Heke, iho, haere waho
Hoki waenganui 		      Here are the actions
Up right, left too
Down, go outward
Return to the middle

Kua riro C. A. T.

Key of A
Kua riro C. A. T.
I te rapu R. A. T.
I te taha o te pari
E keri ana he kīore

Peke atu C. A. T.
Ki te hopu R. A. T.
I te taha o te pari
E kata ana ko te tori. 		      C. A. T. has gone
to search for R. A. T.
By the side of the cliff
the rat is digging

C. A. T. jumps forth
to to catch R. A. T.
By the side of the cliff
the cat is laughing.

A Haka Mana

 Key of C
C
Ā haka mana para tawa ngāwhā

Ē heke mene pere tewe ngēwhē
F
Ī hiki mini piri tiwi ngīwhī
C
Ō hoko mono poro towo ngōwhō
G7 F
Ā Ē Ī Ō Ū
C
Ū huku munu puru tuwu ngūwhū !		      

Tohora nui

Key of C : Tune of Making Whoopee! Play this little Making Whoopie sound file.


Tohora nui,
tohora roa
Tohora tino momona
Tohora whiuwhiua,
tohora piupiua
E kau ana te moana
       Big whale,
long whale
very fat whale
fling (your tail) whale
wave (your tail) whale
swimming in the ocean

Haere mai a Hana Koko

 Tune: We wish you a Merry Christmas.
Haere mai a Hana Koko, x 3
Mā runga te rei.
Kia hari, kia koa, x 3
Mō Hana Koko! 		      Come, come, Santa Claus
by flying overhead.
Be happy, be joyful
About Santa Claus.

Tangi tangi perekoneke, a sledge with rear wheels

Tune: Jingle Bells.
Tangi tangi pere
Tangi tangi pere
Tangi tangi tonu rā
Tino pai te harere
Ma runga to koneke - hei! 		      Ring, ring bells
Ring, ring bells
Ring non-stop all the way
The holiday is so good
On top of your sledge - yay!

He pipi māu e hine

Key of D
He pipi māu e hine
He kuku māu e tama
Tiwaro pūpū
He pōhā kina
He pōhā kina

He pāau māu e hine
He kehe māu e tama
He kōura whero
Kei runga karengo
Kei runga karengo 		      A sea shell for you girl
A mussel for you boy
Separate the pūpū
A kit of kina
A kit of kina

A pāua for you girl
A rock cod for you boy
cooked crayfish
karengo as relish
karengo as relish

Mā is white

 Key of E     Play this MP3
Mā is white, whero is red, kākāriki green
Pango is black, pangu is too, A. E. I. O. U.

Kōwhai yellow, pākākā brown, kiko-rangi blue
Pa-raka-raka is our orange, A. E. I. O. U.

Wera is hot, maku wet, makariri cold
Ua is rain, mahana warm, A. E. I. O. U.

Tahi is one, rua is two, toru number three
Whā is four, rima is five, 1, 2, 3, 4 ,5

Ono is six, whitu is seven waru number eight,
Iwa is nine, tekau is ten, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Kapokapo whetū iti
Kapokapo whetū iti
Hua ahau he aha koe
Runga rawa i te ao
Hei tiamana i te rangi
Kapokapo whetū iti
Hua ahau he aha koe 		      Twinkle, twinkle little star
how I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high.
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle little star
how I wonder what you are

Haere mai te manuhiri

 Key of E
Haere mai te manuhiri, haere mai
Haere mai te manuhiri, haere mai
Nō runga te manuhiri
Nō raro te manuhiri
Nō te tū, nō te tā
Hei hā ! 		      Welcome visitors, welcome
Welcome visitors, welcome
the visitors from north
the visitors from south
from here, from there
Hei ha !

Pāpā hipi mangu

Key of D
Pāpā hipi mangu
He wūru ano au?
Ae e pā ae e pā
E toru peke kī
tahi mā te māhita
tahi mā te kuia
tahi mā te tama iti
Tangi ana i te ara 		      Baa baa black sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir
Three bags full
one for the master
one for the old lady
one for the little boy
crying down the road

Hei tira tira

 Key of E
Hei tira tira
Te poti me te whira
Te kau hūpeke te maramu
Katakata te kurī
Ki tana mahi pai
Ka oma te rīhi me te pune 		      Hey diddle diddle
the cat and the fiddle
the cow jumped the moon
the dog laughed
at that good work
the dish and the spoon ran away.

I ngā wā o mua rā

Key of D
I ngā wā o mua rā
Noho ai ngā tūpuna
Roto i o pā
Runga i ngā puke rā

Kite au ngā whare nei
Muri tīwhatawhata nei
Wharepuni iri rā
Whare whakairo nui

Tirohia te tangata
Karanga ai, "Kia hiwa rā"
Runga i te pūhara
Hei mata-ara i ngā wā 		      In past times
the ancestors lived
in their fortified villages
on top of hills

I see the houses
behind pallisades
small sleeping houses
large carved houses

Look at the man
Calling out "Be ever watchful"
on the sentry platform
forever alert

Motokā iti rawa e

Key of E. A classic old funny song
Motokā iti rawa e
Māku e taraiwa e
Tangi ana te kānga
beep beep beep
Kūpai e te iwi e
Hōmai te aroha e
Maybe I can see
May be e putiputi
Right here on my ..... 		      Little motor car
I'll drive you
The horn sounds
beep beep beep
Goodbye everybody
Give me your love
Maybe I can see
Maybe its a sunflower
...some part of the body

Me kā harikoa koe
Me kā harikoa koe
Takahia
Me kā harikoa koe
Takahia
Me kā harikoa koe
ka mūmura to kanohi
Me kā harikoa koe
Takahia.

...Rū mahunga

...Papaki ringa

...Takuhuri

...Peke atu

...Peke mai

...Whawhati turi etc etc 		      If you're happy and you know it
stamp your feet
If you're happy and you know it
stamp your feet
If you're happy and you know it
then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it
stamp your feet

...Shake your head

...Clap your hands

...Turn around

...Jump ahead

...Jump back

...Bend your knees etc

Whakawhiti rori

Key of D
Whakawhiti rori
I te ao i te pō
kia tūpato ngā waka
e rere nei
Titiro maui
Titiro matau
E kore rawa koe
E tukia		       When you cross the road
by day or night
be careful of the traffic
that looms in sight
Look left
Look right
and you'll never be
run over

Haere rā e hine

Key of A. This is on the Kiri -Maori Songs CD - MP3
Haere rā e hine ki Mokoia
Ki reira noho ai
Kaua rā e hine a wareware
Ko au tō pūmau 		      Go then girl to Mokoia
And there stay
Don't forget girl
That I will be forever faithful

Happy birthday to you

 Key of G. Everyone knows this tune, nei?

A simple version

Rā whānau koa
Rā whānau koa
Ki a koe e ......
Rā whānau koa 		              "Day of birth joyful"
Happy birthday
To you .....
Happy birthday 		           

And a version with proper Maori grammar, but with more difficulty fitting the words all in.

He rā whānau koa ki a koe
He rā whānau koa ki a koe
He rā whānau koa e ..........
He rā whānau koa ki a koe. 		      "A day of birth joyful to you"
A happy birthday to you
A happy birthday to ......
A happy birthday to you.
Note that the old meaning of 'whānau' is as a verb 'to be born.'
The modern use of 'whānau' as 'family' indicates 'those closely related by birth.'

For He's a Jolly Good Fellow

 Key of D. Everyone knows this tune too, eh?
He tangata pai rawa ia
He tangata pai rawa ia
He tangata pai rawa ia
Ko irā tō matou ki 		      For (s)he's a jolly good fellow
"A person good very is (s)he "
For (s)he's a jolly good fellow
And so say all of us.

One day a taniwha

 This now has its own webpage HERE

 

Ngā Rā o Te Wiki

Key of E
Ko te Mane, Rātahi, mahi au e
Ko te Tūrei, Rārua, whai moni au e
Ko te Wenerei, Rātoru, hoko kai au e
Ko te Tāite, Rawhā, kua raru au e
Ko te Paraire, Rārima, mutu au e
Rāhoroi, Hātarei, horoi kaka
Ko te wiki, Rātapu, karakia au e.
Apōpo ko te Mane, koi whakatā au e. 		On Monday, the first day, I work
On Tuesday, the second day, I receive my pay
On Wednesday, the third day, I buy food
On Thursday, the fourth day, I am embarrassed no money
On Friday, the fifth day, I finish my work
On Washday, Saturday, I wash the clothes
Every week, on Sunday, I go to church.
As tomorrow is Monday, I will now take my rest.
Ngā Rā o Te Wiki was specially added for a little girl in Singapore.

Mahunga, Pakihiwi

Tahi, rua, toru, wha!
Mahunga, pakihiwi, puku, hope, waewae
Mahunga, pakihiwi, puku, hope, waewae
Mahunga, pakihiwi, puku, hope, waewae
Taringa, mata, ihu, waha, e! 		One, two, three, four!
Head, shoulder, tummy, hips, legs
Head, shoulder, tummy, hips, legs
Head, shoulder, tummy, hips, legs
Ears, eyes, nose, mouth, yeah!

Pakipaki Tamariki Ma

Pakipaki, pakipaki, tamariki ma(x2)
Kanikani, kanikani, tamariki ma (2)
Rere, rere, rere, rere, tamariki ma(x2)
Peke, peke, peke, peke, tamariki ma (x2)
Hurihuri, hurihuri, tamariki ma (x2)
Hikoi, hikoi, hikoi, hikoi, tamariki ma(x2)
Oma, oma, oma, oma, tamariki ma (x2)
Titiro, titiro, tamariki ma (x2)
E moe, e moe, tamariki ma (x2 )
Pakipaki, pakipaki, tamariki ma (x2) 		Clap, clap children.
Dance
Fly
Jump
Turn
March
Run
Look
Sleep
Clap

Mahunga, pakihiwi . . . (Head shoulders knees and toes)

Tahi, rua, toru, wha!
Mahunga, pakihiwi, puku, hope, waewae (x3)
Taringa, mata, ihu, waha, e! 		  One, two, three, four!
Head, shoulder, tummy, hips, legs
Ears, eyes, nose, mouth, yeah!


Kei hea te tuna?

Kei hea te tuna? Kei hea te tuna?
Kei roto I te awa! Kei roto I te awa!

Kei hea te tuna? Kei hea te tuna?
Kei raro I te toka! Kei raro I te toka!

Kei hea te tuna? Kei hea te tuna?
Kei roto I te hinaki! Kei roto I te hinaki!

Kei hea te tuna? Kei hea te tuna?
Kei roto I te hangi! Kei roto I te hangi!

Kei hea te tuna? Kei hea te tuna?
Kei roto I te rourou! Kei roto I te rourou!

Kei hea te tuna? Kei hea te tuna?
Kei roto I taku PUKU! 		  Where is the eel?
In the river


Under the rock


In the eel trap


In the earth oven


In the food basket


In my TUMMY!

Korikori

Whakaohotia!
Whakatoroa ō ringa,
Me ō waewae,
Pioioi ō hope (Ana)

Chorus:
Korikori, korikori,
Oreore - timata!
Korikori, korikori,
Kanikani!

Whakaohotia!
Whakatoroa ō ringa,
Me ō waewae,
Pioioi ō hope .
Titakataka tō upoko,
Takarure ō ringa,
Me ō waewae,
Whakaohotia!

Me pehea te kori o tō tinana?
Ka mahi tamariki ma! 		  Loosen up!
Stretch those arms,
and your legs.
Sway your hips. (Repeat)

Chorus:
Busybodies, busybodies,
Let's move - lets go!
Busybodies, busybodies
... dance!

Loosen up!
Stretch those arms,
and your legs.
Sway your hips.
Wobble your head.
Shake your hands,
and your feet.
Loosen up!

How does your body like to move?
Well done children!


Buy the CD HERE

Flick (I'm a little fire engine, Flick is my name)

(C) He waka patu ahi au
Ko Flick taku ingo(G)a
Kaore ratou i a hei
Kia whawhai ahi (C) e
Tetahi ra ka tukua au
He tino kaha (F) e
Tangitangi pere
(C) karanga
(G) Karanga ki te waka
Karanga ki te waka
Karanga ki te waka,
(C) Flick		 I'm a little fighting vehicle,
Flick is my name,
They won't let me go with them,
to fight fires.
One day I'll be big
and very strong
The bell rings
calling
Calling for the engine
Calling for the engine
Calling for the engine
Flick

He waka tino paku au
Ko Flick taku ingoa
Kaore au e patu ahi
Aue te aroha!
Ki araki ake au
Ka patu ahi e
Kei te mura ra
te taone
Karanga ki te waka
Karanga ki te waka
Karanga ki te waka,
Flick

I'm a little fighting vehicle,
Flick is my name,
I'm forbidden to fight fires,
Alas, the grief!
To leader I'll grow to
and I'll fight fires.
When burning down
is the town,
call for the engine
call for the engine
call for the engine
Flick

Te Matuku i Hea?

Te matuku i hea?
Te matuku i Wai-aua.
Te matuku i hea?
Te matuku i Tanga-hoe.
Te matuku i hea?
Te matuku i Hinga-hope.
Te matuku i hea?
Te matuku i Pa-tea.
Te matuku i hea?
Te matuku i Whenua-kura.
Te matuku i hea?
Te matuku i Wai-tara.

He matuku, aha te matuku?
Matuku tautiaki,
tau arowhaki, tau arowhaki
te whakarongo, manawa,
te korero te whakarongo
a te wananga

Whakatikaia kia tika
whakatonuhia kia tonu,
hau kia tonu.

He matuku, aha te matuku?
Matuku tautiaki,
Tau arowhaki, tau arowhaki.

Where's the bittern from?
It's from Waiaua
Where's the bittern from?
It's from Tangahoe
Where's the bittern from?
It's from Hingahape
Where's the bittern from?
It's from Patea
Where's the bittern from?
It's from Whenuakura
Where's the bittern from?
It's from Waitara.

Oh bittern, what's the bittern's job?
You will be a guardian, o bittern
rustling your wings, rustling your wings
so that those listening will be deceived
when your voice is heard
just like someone giving instructions.

It must be accurate,
it must be just right
an exact imitation.

Oh bittern, what's the bittern's job?
You will be a guardian, o bittern
rustling your wings, rustling your wings.


Turi (the captain of the Aotea, whose people settled near Patea) left a bittern inside Rangitāwhi, his pallisaded pa, when he and his people had to leave it unoccupied. Any stranger approaching might hear the rustling of the birdŐs wings, and its cry of Hu! Hu! Hu! and believe that some people were still inside the pa.

Pōkarekare Ana and Hurihuri are also suitable for preschoolers.

Other Maori Songs - Main Song List - Home


Published on NZFolksong website 28 March 2002.