Ēi, tākiri mai ko te ata, Ka puta atu ki waho, ka titiro noa atu Ki waenga i te whīra Te pōhututanga mai a te karapu a Pine ī ! Ēi, tēra te karapu nōu na, e Rima, te kori ra-i roto l te riu o Pātea. He rongo whutupōro. I tere papae ai! Auraki kau au Ki re rapu-i ngā ture. Ko koe na, e Tea, te tangata i mōhio ki ngā ture hōu nei, Hei ako i ahau: i rere tō waewae Ki te kiki i te pōrō ī! Ēi, he huinga, he minenga Ki le purei i Pātea! Ka kitea i reira to mohiotanga, ka kitea i reira taku kuaretanga. "Tīraha, e te karapu, Kia tirohia atu te rere mai o te kiki A Ngāti Tamawhiti ī!"

Eh, at the break of dawn we go outside, and see right ahead in the middle of the field, the splashing charge of Pine's team! Eh, that's your team, Rima, leaping about in the Moawhango valley. Your football fame is soon spread abroad! while I go about in vain seeking the rules. You Tea, are the man who knows these new rules and can teach me: your foot flew to kick the ball! Eh; a meeting, a gathering to play in the Mokai Patea district! Seen there was your knowledge; and my ignorance was seen there too. "Lie on your backs, team, And watch the flight of the ball kicked by Ngati Tama/Ngati Whiti!"

This tune is a transitional one with the regular 3/4 rhythm of European music, but still retaining a 4-note scale of traditional Maori chant. Here it is again, slowed 30%, to help you learn its phrasing. Rugby at Moawhango In the 1880s Moawahango, situated on the Gentle Annie road in the Inland Patea region near Taihape, was a thriving village prospering from wool, and serving as a hub for horse and coach travel between Napier, the railway ending near Hunterville, the Whanganui River steamboats and tourist journeys to Mt. Ruapehu and the hot springs at Turangi. Ngati Tama and Ngati Whiti were two closely intertwined Tuwharetoa hapu there, and were often visited by football teams and their supporters from other hapu of Ngati Tuwharetoa. One of these groups made up this song praising the host team. Later it was sung in other places, adapted to new circumstances. We may wonder if any members of the Te Riu o Pātea played in the 1888 team to Great Britain. Interesting words In this song Patea is not the Southern Taranaki freezing works village of Dalvanius and Poi E. It is the "Inland Patea" district between Taihape and the Mokai Patea ranges. Most of the football terms here are adapted from English words. Whīra = field Karapu = club. But here they are referring to the club's team on the field Pōro = ball Whutupōro = football Kiki = kick Purei = play. Kiwi songs - Other Maori songs - Home Page placed onto the NZ Folksong website on Oct 9, 2011, edited April 2016, Sound file added Apr 2021