Poukai ki Te Arawa

English lyrics

(Spoken)Following the passing of Te Arikinui,Te Atairangikaahu, leaders of Pikiao put forward the request to host an annual poukai on the day of her coronation. Her son, King Tūheitia, agreed. Thereby opening a doorwayTo the well spring of food and peopleTo all those assembledLet us gather to sample the mouthwateringFoods of Te Arawa!My fellow guestsLest you dawdle;For Te Iti Kahurangi is hungry!O Rongo, we raise our offeringsFor a bountiful feast!Thus, amass all provisionsHere at Te Rotorua-nui-a-KahumatamomoeLet the Poukai commence!Your basket and mine will together provideA well spring of food and peopleTo our penny-diving hosts, Te ArawaBehold your penny-giving cousins of TainuiBut a small travelling party;

We hereby present the traditional thrupence

So as to add to the collectionsAnd expand the kittyFor what purpose? To pay for the jelly!For what purpose? To pay for the foodsAcquired from the basket of WhakaotirangiWho married local hero TamatekapuaAnd engendered progeny through to PikiaoThe latter producing a male line of descent to Te Kīngitanga, whose offspring lead to the arrival of Poukai here in Te Arawa!Open the pits! Devour the contents!Ah, dinner is served! A ha ha!Feast on the fruits of Te Arawa hospitalityIn the splendor of the provisions of Tāne RoreTill our paunches can take no moreAnd we are well and truly satisfied!What is the food of chiefs?It is unequivocally the food of Te Arawa!