Mōteateatia te uri o Tūhoe Pōtiki
Since I was young I can recall my elders retelling the bravery of Ngāi Tūhoe who came to aid our people in battle at O-Rākau. Since that time, up until today I still feel a great deal of compassion for the children of the mist. As we, the O-Rākau Heritage Society Committee, prepared the battle site for the 150th memorial of the war, I felt angry. I could feel their spiritual presence and asked the question, amongst other things, ‘Where exactly do you lie?’ I began to cry, the words came and the tune followed, and this song was born.
Maori lyrics
Ka tū au ki runga o Te Aratītaha
Ka titiro ki Te Urewera
Aku ika a Whiro
Aku uretoa kairākau!
Koutou i mate ai i te marae o te riri ki O-Rākau!
Okioki mai, oki mai!
Māringiringi mai ana ngā roimata rurutu kino
He hōpuapua i aku kamo mō te huinga o te kura
E moe mai nā i te moremore o te whenua
Hīrearea noa rā te tangi a te iwi nui i te pō
I ōku taringa e hākiri nei ki te āta whakarongo
Ki ngā maimai aroha a ngā pouwaru mō te puhi o Mātaatua
I haramai rā i Te Urukāraerae
I haramai rā me Te Rehu o Tainui
I haramai rā i Te Tini o Hinepūkohurangi
Mōhukihuki te mamae roa ki te tau o taku ate
E haehae nei i te rironga o te rau o tītapu
Ka turakina mai taku wao tōtara
Ka tangihia rā i Manawarū
Ka tangihia rā i Wharepūhunga
