Waiata | Aku Mahi
Karanga, karanga, karanga, karanga ra,
Karanga Aotearoa e,
Ki ngā iwi o te motu e
Haere mai rā, haere mai rā, haere mai rā,
Ki aku mahi e
Tukua rā ngā kupenga
Kia haere ana ki waho e
Tōia mai, tōia mai, kumea mai
A tāua mahi e
Ka huri au hi, ka titiro
Ka huru au hi, ka whakarongo
Ka huru au hi, ka tahuri
Ki te awhi mai
I aku aha, i aku mahi,
o aku tīpuna e
Ka haka tēnā, ka poi tēnā
He mahi a ringaringa a e
Te hiki taku mere,
i taku taiaha
Te mana taku ihi e,
Pupuritia!
Takahia, takahia
Kia whakarono ai ngā iwi.
Pupuritia, pupuritia, pupuritia
A tāua mahi e.
Ka huri au, ka titiro
Ka huru au, ka whakarongo
Ka huru au, ka tahuri
Ki te awhi mai....
....Ki aku aha?
Ki aku mahi o aku tīpuna e
Ka haka tēnā, ka poi tēnā
He mahi a ringaringa a e
Te hiki taku mere, i taku taiaha
Te mana taku ihi e,
Takahia, takahia
Kia whakarono ai ngā iwi.
Pupuritia, pupuritia, pupuritia
A tāua mahi e.
Hi au-e hei!
It is calling, calling, calling to you,
New Zealand is calling
to all the tribes of the land
"Come, come, come
and join my tasks."
Let the fishing nets out
Let them go out a long way
Haul them in, haul them in, pull them in
To take part in what we are doing here.
I turn and look
I turn and listen
I turn, turn around
to take part...
...in what are mine, in my customs,
handed down from my ancestors,
this haka, this poi
and hand work.
I raise my greenstone blade,
and my fighting staff.
The spiritual power is my energizing force.
Hold onto these things!
Stamp your feet, stamp your feet
so that everyone can hear you.
Hold, hold fast, hold on
to these customs.
I turn and look
I turn and listen
I turn, turn around
to take part in.....
.....In what?
In the activities, of my ancestors,
the haka, the poi
and action song.
I raise my greenstone blade, and my fighting staff
The spirituality energises me.
Stamp your feet, stamp your feet
so that everyone can hear you.
Hold on, hold on, hold on
to these customs.
Yeah! right on!
This is a powerful karanga waiata composed by Kōhine Tewhakarua Pōnika (1920–1989), a respected Māori composer of Tūhoe and Ngāti Porou descent. The waiata calls on the people of Aotearoa to unite in cultural strength and connection, to come together and engage in collective action. It emphasizes the strength of unity, the importance of ancestral connections, and the enduring power of love and respect within the community.
Despite not reading sheet music, Kōhine composed over 200 waiata by ear and was a passionate advocate for Te Reo Māori and kapa haka. She founded the Hei Tiki Māori Youth Club in 1969 and contributed to the iconic Te Māori exhibition. Her waiata continue to inspire pride and resilience within Māori communities.
This waiata is best performed in kaupapa Māori settings that honour unity, cultural identity, and ancestral connection. It should be used respectfully, with understanding of its meaning and composer.
Karanga, karanga, karanga, karanga ra,
Karanga Aotearoa e,
Ki ngā iwi o te motu e
Haere mai rā, haere mai rā, haere mai rā,
Ki aku mahi e
Tukua rā ngā kupenga
Kia haere ana ki waho e
Tōia mai, tōia mai, kumea mai
A tāua mahi e
Ka huri au hi, ka titiro
Ka huru au hi, ka whakarongo
Ka huru au hi, ka tahuri
Ki te awhi mai
I aku aha, i aku mahi,
o aku tīpuna e
Ka haka tēnā, ka poi tēnā
He mahi a ringaringa a e
Te hiki taku mere,
i taku taiaha
Te mana taku ihi e,
Pupuritia!
Takahia, takahia
Kia whakarono ai ngā iwi.
Pupuritia, pupuritia, pupuritia
A tāua mahi e.
Ka huri au, ka titiro
Ka huru au, ka whakarongo
Ka huru au, ka tahuri
Ki te awhi mai....
....Ki aku aha?
Ki aku mahi o aku tīpuna e
Ka haka tēnā, ka poi tēnā
He mahi a ringaringa a e
Te hiki taku mere, i taku taiaha
Te mana taku ihi e,
Takahia, takahia
Kia whakarono ai ngā iwi.
Pupuritia, pupuritia, pupuritia
A tāua mahi e.
Hi au-e hei!
It is calling, calling, calling to you,
New Zealand is calling
to all the tribes of the land
"Come, come, come
and join my tasks."
Let the fishing nets out
Let them go out a long way
Haul them in, haul them in, pull them in
To take part in what we are doing here.
I turn and look
I turn and listen
I turn, turn around
to take part...
...in what are mine, in my customs,
handed down from my ancestors,
this haka, this poi
and hand work.
I raise my greenstone blade,
and my fighting staff.
The spiritual power is my energizing force.
Hold onto these things!
Stamp your feet, stamp your feet
so that everyone can hear you.
Hold, hold fast, hold on
to these customs.
I turn and look
I turn and listen
I turn, turn around
to take part in.....
.....In what?
In the activities, of my ancestors,
the haka, the poi
and action song.
I raise my greenstone blade, and my fighting staff
The spirituality energises me.
Stamp your feet, stamp your feet
so that everyone can hear you.
Hold on, hold on, hold on
to these customs.
Yeah! right on!
This is a powerful karanga waiata composed by Kōhine Tewhakarua Pōnika (1920–1989), a respected Māori composer of Tūhoe and Ngāti Porou descent. The waiata calls on the people of Aotearoa to unite in cultural strength and connection, to come together and engage in collective action. It emphasizes the strength of unity, the importance of ancestral connections, and the enduring power of love and respect within the community.
Despite not reading sheet music, Kōhine composed over 200 waiata by ear and was a passionate advocate for Te Reo Māori and kapa haka. She founded the Hei Tiki Māori Youth Club in 1969 and contributed to the iconic Te Māori exhibition. Her waiata continue to inspire pride and resilience within Māori communities.
This waiata is best performed in kaupapa Māori settings that honour unity, cultural identity, and ancestral connection. It should be used respectfully, with understanding of its meaning and composer.