A FAMOUS HAKA

Te Ao Hou, March 1959, Page 22

A FAMOUS HAKA EDITED BY REV. TIPI KAA This famous haka has been edited for us by Rev. Tipi Kaa, of Te Kaha who used a translation and brief commentary given to him by the late Sir Apirana Ngata. Te Kiri Ngutu is still frequently performed by East Coast groups on important occasions. Although the text, taken strictly, would suggest that the performers are hostile to the European, the Maori does not really feel the haka in that way. For instance, it was performed before Lord Bledisloe when the Waitangi Treaty House was opened in 1934; then, it undoubtedly symbolized deep gratitude. When performed before Prime Ministers on East Coast maraes, Te Kiri Ngutu is felt as a respectful greeting. It expresses the proud and defiant spirit of Ngati Porou. HAKA (TE KIRI NGUTU) Whakaara Kaea: Ponga ra! Ponga ra! Katoa: Ka tataki mai Te Whare o nga Ture! Ka whiria te Maori! Ka whiria! (E) Ngau nei ona reiti (E) ngau nei ona taake! A ha ha! Te taea te ueue! I aue! Hei! Kaea: Patua i te whenua! Katoa: Hei! Kaea: Whakataua i nga ture! Katoa: Hei! Kaea: A ha ha! Katoa: Na nga mema ra te kohuru Na te Kawana te koheriheri! Ka raruraru nga ture! Ka raparapa ki te pua torori! I aue! Te Tinana Kaea: Kaore hoki te mate o te whenua e Te makere atu ki raro ra! Katoa: A ha ha! Iri tonu mai runga O te kiringutu mau mai ai, Hei tipare tana mo te hoariri! A ha ha! I tahuna mai au Ki te whakahere toto koa, A ki te ngakau o te whenua nei, Ki te koura! I aue, taukuri e! Kaea: A ha ha! Katoa: Ko tuhikitia. ko tuhapainga I raro i te whero o te Maori! Hukiti! Translation by Sir Apirana (The Rising) S: The shadows fall! The shadows fall! Ch: The House which makes the laws is chattering And the Maori will be plaited as a rope It's rates and it's taxes are biting! A ha ha! its teeth cannot be withdrawn! Alas! S: The land will be destroyed! Ch: Hei! S: The laws are spread-eagled over it! Ch: Hei! S: A ha ha! Ch: The members have done this black deed, And the rulers have conspired in the evil; The laws of the land are confused, For even the tobacco leaf is singled out! Alas! The body of the haka S: Never does the loss of our landed heritage Cease to burden our minds! A ha ha! Ever it is upon our lips, clinging As did the headbands of the warriors Arranged to parry the enemy's blow! A ha ha! I was scorched in the fire Of the sacrifice of blood, and stripped To the vital heart of the land, Bribed with the Pakeha gold! Alas! Ah me! S: A ha ha! Ch: Was it not your declared mission To remove the tattoo from Maori lips

A ha ha! Na te ngutu o te Maori, pohara, Kai kutu, na te weriweri koe i homai ki konei E kaore iara, i haramai tonu koe Ki te kai whenua! Pokokohua! Kauramokai! Hei! Kaea: A ha ha! Katoa: Kei puta atu hoki te ihu o te waka I nga torouka o Niu Tireni, Ka paia pukutia mai e nga uaua O te ture a te Kawana! Te taea te ueue! Au! Au! Aue! Relieve his distress, stop him eating lice And cleanse him of dirt and disgust? Yea! But all that was a deep-lined design ‘Neath which to devour our lands! Ha! May your heads be boiled! Displayed on the toasting sticks! S. A ha ha! Ch: How can the nose of the bark (canoe) you give us Pass by the rugged headlands of New Zealand, When confronted with the restrictive perplexing laws Obstacles that cannot be removed! Alas! Ah me!