Waiata | Tutungia te Hatete o Te Reo
Te Kāea: Tutūngia te hatete o te reo
E te akunga houhare
Tutūngia te hatete o te reo
Kia kongange, kia pūkauri
Kei pūrēhua, ka piroku, ka kewa
Ko te kanaku whitawhita
O kōingo, o nako
Me ngiha
Ponitakatia kia pūāhuru te noho
Tāku ahi tūtata
Tāku mata kikoha
Ko te kanaku whitawhita
O kōingo, o nako
Me ngiha
Ponitakatia kia pūāhuru te noho
Tāku ahi tūtata
Tāku mata kikoha
Kei pūrēhua, ka piroku
Kia kongange, kia pūkauri
Tutūngia te hatete o te reo
Ngā Tāne: Tāku ahi tūtata, tāku mata kikoha
Te kanaku whitawhita o te reo e...hī!
Lead: Ignite the fire of the language
Oh you the industrious rank
Ignite the fire of the language
So that it blazes, and burns fiercely
Lest it flickers indistinctly, and eventually extinguishes
A healthy fire is by
Both yearning, desire, kept alight
Surround yourself so that you are warmed
When my fire is close the point of my weapon is sharp
The healthy fire of longing, of desire
Kept alight
Surround yourself so that you are warmed
When my fire is close
The point of my weapon is sharp
Lest it flickers and gets extinguished
So that it blazes and burns fiercely
Ignite the fire of the language
Men: When my fire is close
The point of my weapon is sharp
The healthy fire of the language
This waiata was composed by Leon Blake and Pānia Papa. It uses rich metaphors and powerful imagery to ignite the emotional and cultural flame of Te Reo Māori. The lyrics call for the language to be fiercely protected and deeply felt - urging us to stoke the embers of Te Reo until it burns brightly in our lives, our homes, and our futures.
This waiata is best performed in kaupapa Māori settings that celebrate or promote Te Reo Māori - such as kapa haka, kura reo, Te Wiki o te Reo Māori events, or reo-focused hui. It should be delivered with understanding and purpose.
Te Kāea: Tutūngia te hatete o te reo
E te akunga houhare
Tutūngia te hatete o te reo
Kia kongange, kia pūkauri
Kei pūrēhua, ka piroku, ka kewa
Ko te kanaku whitawhita
O kōingo, o nako
Me ngiha
Ponitakatia kia pūāhuru te noho
Tāku ahi tūtata
Tāku mata kikoha
Ko te kanaku whitawhita
O kōingo, o nako
Me ngiha
Ponitakatia kia pūāhuru te noho
Tāku ahi tūtata
Tāku mata kikoha
Kei pūrēhua, ka piroku
Kia kongange, kia pūkauri
Tutūngia te hatete o te reo
Ngā Tāne: Tāku ahi tūtata, tāku mata kikoha
Te kanaku whitawhita o te reo e...hī!
Lead: Ignite the fire of the language
Oh you the industrious rank
Ignite the fire of the language
So that it blazes, and burns fiercely
Lest it flickers indistinctly, and eventually extinguishes
A healthy fire is by
Both yearning, desire, kept alight
Surround yourself so that you are warmed
When my fire is close the point of my weapon is sharp
The healthy fire of longing, of desire
Kept alight
Surround yourself so that you are warmed
When my fire is close
The point of my weapon is sharp
Lest it flickers and gets extinguished
So that it blazes and burns fiercely
Ignite the fire of the language
Men: When my fire is close
The point of my weapon is sharp
The healthy fire of the language
This waiata was composed by Leon Blake and Pānia Papa. It uses rich metaphors and powerful imagery to ignite the emotional and cultural flame of Te Reo Māori. The lyrics call for the language to be fiercely protected and deeply felt - urging us to stoke the embers of Te Reo until it burns brightly in our lives, our homes, and our futures.
This waiata is best performed in kaupapa Māori settings that celebrate or promote Te Reo Māori - such as kapa haka, kura reo, Te Wiki o te Reo Māori events, or reo-focused hui. It should be delivered with understanding and purpose.