Haka – Aoraki Matatū

Kaitito / Composer – Kā Pari Kārakaraka 2008
Rohe – Kāi Tahu whānui 

Whakamārama / Explanation

E rua kā tino whāika o te haka nei.  Tuatahi, ko te whakapakari i a Kāi Tahu i tō rātou Kāi Tahutaka, ā, kia ākina te huka rakatahi kia patua tō rātou whakamā, kia mate.  Ko te whāika tuarua he whakamārama ki kā iwi o Te Ika a Māui i kā āhuataka o Kāi Tahu, ā, he whakatonu anō hoki o roto, kia kauraka e pōhēhē e kore kā taumahataka kua tau mai ki ruka i a Kāi Tahu e tau anō hoki ki ruka i a rātou.  Ka mutu, he whakatonu ki te huka e wawe ana ki te whakatoi, ki te whakahawea i a Kāi Tahu mō tō mātou reo, mo tō mātou āhua, aha atu rānei, aha atu rānei.  E kore te huare e hoki ki te waha, nā reira mēnā he whakaiti te mahi – puritia ki te waha, ā, mau noa atu ki reira!
There are two main objectives of this haka.  Firstly, there is the aim of strengthening Kāi Tahu in their identity and cultural self esteem, whilst also urging the youth to expell all sense of shame and embarrasment about their iwi.  The second objective is to explain to the tribes of the North Island the historical experiences and circumstances Kāi Tahu has been through, and with that also a caution – lest they be mistaken that the pressures experienced by us will never befall them.  Furthermore, it is also a warning to those quick to tease and belittle Kāi Tahu for our language and appearances or whatever else might be the topic of the day.  The spittle never returns to the mouth – what is said cannot be retracted, so if the intent is to belittle – best hold it in the mouth, and keep it there!

AORAKI MATATŪ

He aha kai muri i te awe kāpara
Ko ahau, ko Kāi Tahu!
Tītī ā-kai, tītī ā-manawa
Pōī mai koe ki aku awa
Hī ai i taku ika a Kahue
E heia nei te kakī ōu, o te tini

Heke ana i ahau tō ware
ki taku pōhā kai
Tupakaruatia te kiri o aku tīpuna
E Pūnui-o-Toka
Tītī ai te manawa
Pēnei i tōku e tītī tonu nei

Hēoi anō tātou Kāi Tahu e,
koi wareware rā
kā taero o Tū te Koropaka
Te nihomakā hika ana tokomaha,
toa ana a tokoiti,
Kā tonu ana taku ahi e

Te tai tuarua
He para whenua mea
Takata pōra tahae whenua
Mūrere, he whakamōkeke
Mana kore ana te kupu

Toko mai ko te aha?
Ko Te Kerēme, ko Te Kerēme
mana whenua, mana takata
mahi kai hoaka
mahi kai takata

Kāi Tahu e
Kia tama tāne te tū
Kia rite ki te tipuna
Te tihi o te motu
E titi nei ki te raki

Koi pōhēhē koutou e te motu
He tai rere noa
Ekari mō tēnā!
E pari mai anō
I kā pari o te rua
Ka mate, ka mate,
Korekore rawa!
Anea kau ana te reo
Tūteia te kāika manomano e
 
Tītaia ana au ki ō kupu tāwai
He kore tikaka
He utu pārara
He utu pihikete
He karu ōpure
He tea te kiri
He warea ki te tāra
Ko tāku atu ki a koe
Ae mai, ae mai
ki te whae o nono, ki te whae o kaheto e
Aoraki matatū hei! 		AORAKI MATATŪ

Who is behind this pale face
Tis I, Kāi Tahu
Where tītī abounds, the people unyielding
plundering my rivers
thieving my precious resource
to adorn your neck, and those of the multitudes

I make you drool
for want of my greatest delicacies
Obtained at great cost, our ancestors skin weathered
by the icy chill of the southern winds
Tenacious in their endeavors
as am I

A word of caution Kāi Tahu,
Lest they be forgotten
Those obstacles that challenge our existence
The Nihomakā where so many fell
yet the few prevailed
as do my proprietary rights

The second wave
Like a great tide
Came the ship people, land filchers
Devious and underhanded
Their words meant nothing

And what transpired?
‘Twas the Claim,’twas The Claim
Asserting our rights
The grinding battle
That consumed the generations

People of Kāi Tahu
Be fearless in your stance
Just like our ancestor
The highest peak in the land
Piercing the heavens

People of the land, be deluded no longer
That this tide is spent
On the contrary!
it flows more strongly
From the brink of ignominy
Are we doomed
Never, never!
Our language ravaged
But a thousand homes have rallied 
 
I disregard your taunts
We of no customs
Bought with a bottle of rum
and cabin bread
of light coloured eyes
Of pale skin
Obsessed with the dollar
But here is my retort
I welcome your challenge
The victory will be mine
Aoraki be ever proud!

 

 

Additional Language Notes

Pōī – Whakakaokao (swarm) / in droves
Tupakarua / tupangarua – rough of skin
Mūrere = cunning
Whakamōkeke = stealthy
Anea = devastated / swept by war
Tūteia = watch / spy / sentry
Tītaia = Whiua
Ōpure = pied / pasty of colour
Warea = overcome
Kaheto = anus