Te Hokinga Mai was a waiata composed by Te Taite Cooper and Bishop Max Mariu for welcoming the Te Māori exhibition back to New Zealand in 1984.
This version of Te Hokinga Mai song was performed live by the Western Bay Council Waiata Group and recorded in the wharenui - Tamateapōkaiwhenua of Hūria marae in Tauranga.
Links:
Apple Music - coming soon
Spotify - coming soon
www.waiatamaori.nz - coming soon
Lyrics:
He rapu ana i te ara tika
We’re looking for the right way
mō tātou katoa.
for all of us
Tangi a te ruru,
The cry of the morepork
kei te hokihoki mai e.
keeps coming back.
E whakawherowhero
It is hooting out there
i te pūtahitanga.
where the paths meet.
Nāku nei rā koe
I was the one
i tuku kia haere.
who allowed you to go.
Tērā puritia iho
It was curbed,
nui rawa te aroha e.
my deep love for you.
Te hokinga mai, tēna koutou
The return, greetings to you all
Tangi ana te ngākau i te aroha
My heart weeps with affection
tū tonu rā te mana te ihi
standing tall is the prestige
o ngā tūpuna kua wehe atu rā
of the ancestors who have left
Mauria mai, (Hi Ha)
Bring back
Te Mauri, (Hi Ha)
The spirit
Tangata
(Of) the people.
Hei oranga mo te mōrehu
To uplift the wellbeing of the survivors
Tangi mōkai nei
the grieving generations
He rapu ana i te ara tika
We’re looking for the right way
mō tātou katoa.
for all of us
Te hokinga mai, tēna koutou
The return, greetings to you all
Tangi ana te ngākau i te aroha
My heart weeps with affection
tū tonu rā te mana te ihi
standing tall is the prestige
o ngā tūpuna kua wehe atu rā.
of the ancestors who have left.
Mauria mai, (Hi Ha)
Bring back
Te Mauri, (Hi Ha)
The spirit
Tangata.
(Of) the people.
Hei oranga mo te mōrehu
To uplift the wellbeing of the survivors
Tangi mōkai nei
the grieving generations
He rapu ana i te ara tika
We’re looking for the right way
mō tātou katoa.
for all of us
He rapu ana i te ara tika
We’re looking for the right way
mō tātou katoa.
for all of us
Te hokinga mai
The return
Te hokinga mai
The return
Tū tangata tonu
People continue to stand strong
Composers:
Te Taite Cooper and Bishop Max Mariu
Performers:
Western Bay Council Waiata Group
Music and Production:
Western Bay Council Waiata Group
Abraham Kunin
Produced by Bradley Walker
Kōtuku Records
and Adrenalin Group
Video by SupaVision www.supavision.co.nz
While every effort is made to have this information correct, we cannot guarantee accuracy.