AN ORIORI - A CHANT OF WELCOME
(for a new-born child)
E tama i whanake i te ata o pipiri,
Piki nau ake, e tama,
Ki tou tini i te rangi.
E puta raanei koe, e tama
,
I te wa kaikino nei?
Taku tamaiti, hohoro te korikori
Kia tae atu koe ki te wai ahupuke i o tipuna;
Kia wetea mai ko te topuni tauwhangai,
Hei kahu mohou ki te whakarewanga taua.
Ko te toroa uta naku i tautara
Ki te ake rautangi;
Ko te toroa tai naku i kapu mai
I te huka o te tai;
Whakangaro ana ki nga tai rutu i.
O my son, born on a winter's morn,
Your way is long and you are alone,
Your ancestors watch you from afar,
Will you be the next bright star?
O my son, born into war,
Grow swiftly, that you might wear
Their mantle, if you dare.
Greet them without fear,
You will be remembered there.
Kaka feather on your spear,
Feather of an albatross in your hair-
Land, sea and air
Here in the hollow of my hand-
Take them, lest they disappear.
This particular oriori was composed for his son by Nohomaiterangi, a chief of Ngai Te Whatuiapiti. He lived some eleven generations back. This "would have him born somewhere between 1650 and 1700". The oriori was composed at Wheao, a hill just behind Te Hauke, Te Whatuiapiti's main stronghold, in what is now known as Hawkes Bay. (Personal communication from Ross Himona of Ngai Te Whatuiapiti)
The kaka is the green parrot who reigns over the land. The albatross is the bird who reigns over the seas. The translation is by Barry Mitcalfe.
