This canoe-hauling chant was published by Edward Shortland (1856) in "Traditions and Superstitions of the New Zealanders: with Illustrations of their Manners and Customs."

Maori living in the Waikato and Waiuku districts gained access to the western side of the Hauraki Gulf via the Manukau Harbour and by using portages across the narrow part of the isthmus. 

After voyaging down the Tamaki River, northbound voyagers proceeded north off the east coast, hugging the land, and portaging again across the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.

People living on or near the banks of the Waihou, Waitoa, and Piako Rivers, or near the coasts on both sides of the Hauraki Gulf, joined the northern waterways system via Tamaki Strait.

When bad weather made it difficult to sail up the east coast north of the Waitamata hrbour, north-south voyagers went up the Weiti River, then portaged to the Kaukapakapa River and continued on to Kaipara Harbour.

The southern circular route enabled people on the upper Waikato River to reach the Waitemata Harbour by carrying their canoes over only one portage .

With the aid of these portages, Maori were able to voyage nearly five hundred kilometres by rivers and sheltered tidal waters from about Horahora on the Waikato River to around Tangowahine on the northern Wairoa River.

Full details of each of these portage tracks may be found here. Portages of Early Auckland

There were also portaging tracks in the central North Island allowing waka to be brought up the Whanganui River, across to Lake Rotoaira, down the Poutu and Tongariro Rivers, across Lake Taupo, around the waterfalls at its outlet and down the Waikato river.