NZFS Concert Item * Utaina Mai

Kiwi songs - Maori songs - Home

A classic 1950s concert party entrance song: a charming melodic section
sung by women, to give counterpoint to the following thunderous
rhythmic chant of the men coming through from the rear of the stage.

Women's poi

sung to tune of
Paul Anka's
"Oh Diana!"

Utaina mai ngā waka
Ngā waka o te motu
Tōia mai rā ki uta
Ki te takoranga.
A hiki 'nuku,
hiki e
Hiki rangi,
runga e
Tēnā, tēnā rā
koutou katoa.

Put everyone aboard the canoes,
the canoes of the island.
Thrust the canoes shorewards
to the place where they will lie.
Swing your paddles down,
swing them
Swing your paddles skywards,
swing them
Greetings, greetings
to you all.

Men's haka

Traditional

U ta-i!
'Ta-hi!
U ta-i!
'Ta-hi!

Utaina mai ngā iwi
0 te motu
Ki runga Tauranga e tau.

A hiki 'nuku e!
A hiki rangi e!
A hiki rangi e!
A hiki 'nuku e!
A! ha! ha!

Ka hikitia i tā nga iwi
Ka hapainga tāna waka
Aue! Aue! Aue! Ha!
Aue! Aue! Aue! Ha! Hei!

Man the canoes
Yes!
Seize the paddles!
Yes!

Put aboard all the tribes
of the island
onto ..(place name).. here.

Thrust your paddles down deep
Flip them now to the heavens
Lift them skywards
Now thrust them down deep.
A ha ha!

It is urged on by everyone
Their canoe is raised on high
Aue, aue, aue, ha!
Aue, aue, aue! Ha! Hei!

O Diana

"O Diana" - I'm so young and you're so old, this my darling I've been told..." - was written in 1956 by 15 year old Paul Anka, about his 18 year old neighbour, Diane Ayoub. It was a very popular song with young people in New Zealand at that time.

So the Rev Kingi Ihaka would have written this section of the item in about 1958, when he was posted to Wellington and combined his pastoral work with broadcasting and tutoring at Ngati Poneke Maori Club. He became well known for the songs he wrote for them and his direction of them at cultural competitions.

The welcome

The visiting group, or manuhiri, are likened collectively to the crew of a canoe. When the manuhiri reach their destination (the guest tribe's marae) the canoe is said to have figuratively arrived at its resting place.

'Nuku = Papatuanuku = Earth mother;
Rangi = Ranginui =Sky father.

The place name varies with each local version.

"Hiki nuku, hiki rangi " are often written as "hikinuku, hikirangi."

In some areas the following sequence is used.
A hiki nuku e
A hiki rangi e
A hiki nuku e
A hiki rangi e

The line "A hiki nuku hiki e" is sung in some places as ''Hiki rangi rangi e''.

Kiwi Songs - Maori Songs - Home

Page made July 2001, video added June 2020