HE RAUEMI AKO MĀ TE WHĀNAU
Karakia, Waiata & Haka
Learn Together
NAU MAI · WELCOME
He pukapuka mā te whānau
Kia ora, and welcome to learning together.
This collection introduces nine karakia, seven haka and seven waiata for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau.
How to use this book
Choose one piece. Learn what it means, follow its source, listen to a fluent speaker and practise a little each day. Print your favourites for your bedroom, dining room or classroom.
A note about the words
Where the Māori words can be reproduced, they appear in full. For other compositions, follow the linked original for the complete kupu. English meanings here are short learning explanations, not certified word-for-word translations.
Tikanga and care
Haka, karakia and waiata have different histories, iwi connections and occasions. Follow local tikanga for formal gatherings and ask knowledgeable people when uncertain.
WHAKAHUA · PRONUNCIATION
Start with the sounds
Take your time, and listen as you practise.
Aas in father
Eas in bed
Ias in see
Oas in more (without the glide)
Uas in moon
Ā Ē Ī Ō ŪLong vowels: hold each sound for longer
WHOften similar to f; regional pronunciation varies
NGAs in sing, including at the start of a word
These English approximations are a starting point only. Follow a trusted Māori pronunciation recording or a fluent speaker.
NGĀ IHIRANGI · CONTENTS
Explore the collection
Karakia
Waiata
Haka
Followed by two practice pages, sources and a closing page.
E Ara
Morning • welcoming a new day
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
The sun rises, the darkness passes and a new day comes alive.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
Try this after opening the curtains or before beginning school. Seek the original teaching and pronunciation from Ngāti Apa.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Tom Alesana • Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō resource
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Follow the source for complete kupu; modern composition.
He Hōnore
Opening a gathering • Christian
TE REO MĀORI
He hōnore He korōria ki te Atua He maungārongo ki te whenua He whakaaro pai ki ngā tangata katoa Āmine
ENGLISH MEANING
Honour and glory to God; peace on earth and goodwill to all people.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
This is explicitly Christian. Choose a different karakia if that does not suit the whānau or setting.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Christian karakia / hymn • attribution varies
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Commonly shared karakia; attribution/version review recommended.
Kia Tau ki a Tātou Katoa
Peace • love • wellbeing
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
May calm, aroha and a feeling of safety settle over all of us.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
A gentle reflection at the beginning or end of an activity.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Attributed to Pūkenga in cited council collection
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Complete kupu available at source; text reuse not verified.
Nau Mai e Ngā Hua
Karakia kai • before sharing food
TE REO MĀORI
Nau mai e ngā hua e hora nei Haumi ē, hui ē, tāiki ē!
ENGLISH MEANING
Welcome the food that has been laid before us. We join together in gratitude.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
A short, learnable karakia kai. The source also offers an extended version and a recording.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Traditional karakia • iwi resource: Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Traditional short form; source credit shown.
E Rongo
Karakia kai • nourishment and cultivation
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
An acknowledgement of Rongo and the cultivated food that sustains our bodies and wellbeing.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
Learn about Rongo and why kai is acknowledged before a shared meal.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Composer not confirmed
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Complete kupu available at source; reproduction permission not confirmed.
Tēnei te Whakamoemiti
Thanking the people who prepared kai
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
We give thanks to the hands that prepared the food and to the natural world that provided it.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
Make it a whānau habit to notice the people, whenua and mahi behind your meal.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Composer not confirmed
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
New Zealand Events Association ↗
Complete kupu available at source; reproduction permission not confirmed.
Kia Whakairia te Tapu
Closing a hui • moving on from a gathering
TE REO MĀORI
Kia whakairia te tapu Kia wātea ai te ara Kia turuki whakataha ai Kia turuki whakataha ai Haumi e, hui e, tāiki e!
ENGLISH MEANING
May the special conditions of our gathering be lifted so that the way ahead is clear. We stand together.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
Often used to conclude meetings. Follow local tikanga for formal settings.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Traditional • composer unknown
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Traditional form in a public sector resource.
Kua Mutu Ā Mātou Mahi
After school • completing work
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
Our work has ended for now. May we, our friends and our whānau be looked after; peace to the world.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
Suitable for learning what it means to close a day respectfully.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Dr Huirangi Waikerepuru
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Modern attributed composition; link to complete original.
E Tō te Rā
Sunset • closing the day
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
The sun sets; darkness arrives; the moon gives light to the evening.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
Connect the words to the changing sky as a family.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Tom Alesana • Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō resource
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Modern composition; link to complete original.
E Ihowā Atua / Aotearoa
Te waiata ā-motu • national anthem
TE REO MĀORI
E Ihowā Atua, O ngā iwi mātou rā, Āta whakarangona; Me aroha noa. Kia hua ko te pai; Kia tau tō atawhai; Manaakitia mai Aotearoa.
ENGLISH MEANING
O Lord, God of nations, hear us and cherish us. Let goodness grow, may blessing be upon us, and protect Aotearoa.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
This is the familiar first Māori verse. All five official verses are provided at the Ministry's link; singing Māori then English is common at public events.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Thomas Henry Smith (Māori words, 1878) • John Joseph Woods (music) • based on Thomas Bracken's English poem
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Manatū Taonga • Ministry for Culture and Heritage ↗
Anthem text in public domain; official version and other verses at source.
Tōku Reo Tōku Ohooho
Te reo Māori • language revitalisation
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
My language is my awakening, my treasured possession and my most precious adornment.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
Talk about why keeping te reo Māori alive matters to people across Aotearoa.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Te Tāwhiro Maxwell and Te Okeroa Huriwaka • Te Whakatōhea • 1987
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Modern composition; complete lyrics and learning information at source.
Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi
Togetherness • gatherings • school
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
Stand together, seek knowledge and love, and be united.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
A waiata many tamariki learn at school. Try singing it as a group and reflect on what unity means.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Canon Wiremu Te Tau Huata • 1950s
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Ministry of Education • Te Kete Ipurangi ↗
Attributed twentieth-century composition; full lyrics from teaching source.
A Haka Mana
Te arapū Māori • alphabet and sounds
TE REO MĀORI
A E I O U Haka • mana • pana • tawa • na
ENGLISH MEANING
A pronunciation pattern rather than a poem: it helps us practise the five vowel sounds and combinations of letters.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
Sing slowly first. Each vowel is pronounced clearly. Versions vary; confirm the syllable pattern before teaching it as a canonical alphabet.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Traditional teaching rhyme/song • composer not confirmed
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
New Zealand Folk Song • children's waiata ↗
Learning cue only; source has a fuller traditional syllable sequence.
Te Aroha
Love • faith • peace
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
Love, trust and peace among us all.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
Often sung to support a speaker and at gatherings; learn your hosts' preferences.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Morvin Te Anatipa Simon • 1983
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Modern composition; complete lyrics at source.
Ehara i te Mea
Whakapapa • aroha • continuity
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
Aroha is inherited rather than newly invented; it flows across generations.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
A beautiful starting point for talking about what our tūpuna pass on.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Eru Timoko Ihaka • Te Aupōuri
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Attributed composition; full bilingual printable linked.
Mā Wai Rā
Marae • care • remembrance
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
Who will uphold the marae and its responsibilities? Let us act with truth, love and care.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
Often connected with tangihanga and communal remembrance; the full original has shorter and longer forms.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Henare Te Owai • Ngāti Porou • 1933
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Historical attributed waiata; version and reuse to confirm.
Ka Mate
Survival • resilience • life
TE REO MĀORI
Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora! Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora! Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru Nāna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā! Ā upane! Ka upane! Ā upane! Kaupane! Whiti te rā! Hī!
ENGLISH MEANING
Will I die, or will I live? I have survived danger. With help, I emerge and step up into daylight.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
Ka Mate is a taonga of Ngāti Toa Rangatira. Learn its origin, correct actions and attribution before performing.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Te Rauparaha • Ngāti Toa Rangatira
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act 2014 ↗
Traditional nineteenth-century haka; acknowledge Te Rauparaha and Ngāti Toa Rangatira.
Tika Tonu
Confidence • perseverance
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
Stand firm in what is right. Do not be overwhelmed by difficulty: courage and wisdom are already within you.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
A haka of encouragement, reportedly composed for the composer's son. Learn the history before performing.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Waimārama Puhara (also recorded as Putara) • Ngāti Kahungunu
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Composer established; full text rights and variant to verify.
Tōia Mai
Haka pōwhiri • drawing a waka ashore
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
Pull together and draw the waka towards the shore, symbolically welcoming visitors.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
Check the traditional haka version: other waiata share this title. Learn marae tikanga from local people.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Traditional haka pōwhiri • composer unknown
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Traditional work; exact variant remains to be reviewed before copying text.
Tau Ka Tau
Waikato • strength • collective identity
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
A powerful declaration of collective strength, identity and readiness.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
This item should be learned through a trusted local tutor; words and actions differ across groups.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Composer not reliably established • regional forms
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Regional version and attribution still need local review.
Te Kiri Ngutu
History • whenua • resistance
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
A historical statement about land, the pressures of colonial policy and Māori determination.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
This is more complex than a general classroom haka. Discuss the history and rely on fluent review of the translation.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Matutaera (Tūtā) Nihoniho • Ngāti Porou
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Historical haka; exact text and translation variant need review.
Kapa o Pango
All Blacks • team identity
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
The team in black draws strength from Aotearoa, its whenua, its heritage and its collective energy.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
Composed for the All Blacks; learn and appreciate it rather than adopting it as a general-purpose haka.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Derek Lardelli • Ngāti Porou • 2005
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Modern team-specific composition; official words and English translation at source.
Ko Ūhia Mai
Black Ferns • wāhine toa
TE REO MĀORI
The complete te reo Māori kupu are available from the credited original below. Please open the source to read and practise the words.
ENGLISH MEANING
An affirmation of strong women united by whakapapa, whenua and shared purpose.
WHEN & HOW TO USE IT
Composed for the Black Ferns; explore the references to Hineahuone and other ancestral figures.
COMPOSER / ORIGIN
Te Whetū Tipiwai
FULL WORDS & TEACHING SOURCE
Modern team-specific composition; official words and translation at source.
PRACTISE · AKO
My Learning Notes
My everyday karakia
What did you learn from your morning, kai or evening karakia?
Today I learned…
A line I want to remember…
What this means to me…
Who I can practise with…
PRACTISE · AKO
My Learning Notes
My waiata & haka
Which waiata or haka did you practise with your whānau?
Today I learned…
A line I want to remember…
What this means to me…
Who I can practise with…
WHAKAWHETAI · ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Ngā mihi nui
Thank you to the iwi, hapū, composers, educators and organisations whose teaching resources inform this book. Original sources and known composer details are credited on each learning page.
Ka Mate
Ka Mate was composed by Te Rauparaha of Ngāti Toa Rangatira. Ngāti Toa Rangatira are recognised kaitiaki of Ka Mate. Its cultural significance and attribution are acknowledged in the Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act 2014.
Learning with respect
English meanings in these pages are learner summaries, not verified line-by-line translations. For modern compositions, complete kupu may be provided only by the linked source. Please follow the appropriate tikanga and seek fluent review when learning and sharing these taonga.
With thanks to Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Te Puni Kōkiri, Manatū Taonga, NZ Rugby, the Ministry of Education, Playcentre, Aotearoa Songbook and others credited throughout the book.
ICONIC GAMES
Kia kaha te reo Māori
Learn one line. Learn its meaning. Share it with your whānau.
iconicgames.co.nz