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Image credit: "Māori Waka at Waitangi" by Dirk Pons is licensed under CC0
Waka feature in waiata, haka, and whakataukī (proverbs), as they are a tāonga (treasure) which symbolise mahitahi (working together).
This particular waiata was composed by master waka carver Piri Poutapu in the 1930s, after he was asked to carve 7 waka, representing the waka that originally came to Aotearoa. He wanted a song which celebrating the revitalisation of Māori culture.
Play the waiata below and sing along!
Tōia mai te waka nei
Kumea mai te waka nei
Ki te takotoranga takoto ai
Tiriti te mana motuhake
Te tangi a te manu e
Pīpīwharauroa
Kūī, kūī, kūī
Whiti, whiti ora
Hui e, tāiki e
Haul this canoe ashore
Drag this canoe ashore
To its special resting place
And the Treaty bestowing on us our absolute authority
Heralded by the cry of the bird
The shining cuckoo
Calling, calling
For good to prevail
As we unite together as one
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