Lament by MATANGI-HAUROA of NGATI-RAUKAWA, MANAWATU-HOROWHENUA

Te Ao Hou, March 1961, Page 37

Lament by MATANGI-HAUROA of NGATI-RAUKAWA, MANAWATU-HOROWHENUA The Maori was not confined to the concepts of time and space; kinship gave his life a third dimension. His dead were always with him, giving form and meaning to all acts and his attitudes. As seems implicit in this waiata, death was simply a doorway between the dead and the living of the one family. There are indications that this lament is extremely ancient in origin. It is widely known; several tribes claim it as their own. Sir Apirana Ngata and Pei Te Hurinui, who have unravelled and traced some of its threads to their origin, believe it was composed originally by Matangi-Hauroa as a lament for Te Mahunga and a summons to vengeance, then adapted by various tribes for various purposes. This song is known on every marae in the land. Thus many different versions of it have arisen and several tribes lay claim to its authorship. Names of places and of people indicate that it was originally by Matangi-Hauroa of Ngati-Toa after the death of Te Mahunga up the Whanganui River. I have replaced several of the proper-names in the lament with their English equivalents. Takoto rawa iho ki te po, E huihui ana mai o tatou wairua, Kia piri, kia tata mai ki taku taha. Matatu tonu ake, ka maranga kei runga, Whitirere ki te ao, tirotiro kau au; A, me he wairua atua te tarehutanga iho, E te manawa i raro kapakapa tu kei runga! Homai he mata kia haea ki taku kiri; Taku kiri tirohanga mai nei e aku tamariki nei. Mauria atu ra, e Whero, Aku toto, aku tahe, aku parapara tapu; Kia kite mai koutou ko ahau ra tena. E kimi ana i te ara, I haere ai taku pokai tara ki te tonga; Tena ka paea nga hiwi maunga ki a Ngati-Hau, Ko te rongo pai tena i a koutou; He rongo toa mai, hau ana ki te tahatu o te rangi. Te puta to rongo toa, ka pehia mai e Whanganui; He toa e whaiatia ko te potiki na Tuwhakairihau. Kia ata whakaputa; Tena ano ra nga tamariki toa na Rakamaomao Kei te rangi e haere ana; na Motai-tangata-rau, Takahia atu ra nga tuaone kei Matahiwi ra! Ko to tinana i noho atu; Ko to rongo i tuku mai I wani mai runga o nga maunga; Tae rawa mai ki ahau e noho atu nei i te kainga I lie in darkness, as the dead shades gather, Feeling you here, at my side— I turn to greet you, reach out to grasp A world of nothing, no one, nowhere. You passed like a shadow in the night— Lie still, my aching heart. Let the sharp blades gouge me. Let the children see. Take it, Whero, blood, strength, spirit— I walk the path of our fathers. They speak well of the way you died, Your courage cries to the empty skies. You were caught in Whanganui's coils. Remember, watch the son of Tuwhakairihau; Beware, there are other sons of Rakamaomao there; Motai's hundred sons lie in wait. Walk their beaches, scorn them— Your body lies here. Your name will live In this place and perhaps In this poor house of proverbs here.