Ēhara ēnei āhuatanga ka kite ia rā, ia rā
Ko te tūmanako nā te puku mahi ngātahi
He mōmōhanga ngā mahara ki tēnei wā
Ka rongo i ngā rōhi
Ahakoa ētahi wā e huna ana i te otaota,
Āwhina atu ki te tohungia
Hākina
Hā puta
Nāwai, nāwai
Ka kake ki te rangi
He kōtuku rerenga tahi
Ona awe kua waiho iho hei piki kōtuku
Kia kaha ki te rere ngātahi, ngātahi
Hei piki kōtuku
Mehemea kotahi anake te rerenga ka kite
ko te wawata ka pūmau
ki te aroha noa kua puta I tēnei wā.
ā-whānau, ā-hapū, ā-iwi, ā-hāpori,
ā-whenua
Tuturu whakamaua kia tina!
Haumi e, hui e
Taiki e!
Kōtuku - a translation
These things don’t happen everyday
Hopefully, because we were working together
We can remember this time fondly
We can smell the roses
Though sometimes they can be lost in the weeds
We can help each other find them
Breathe in
Breathe out
Eventually
Rising in the sky…
The kōtuku only ever seen once
It’s plumes left behind for our adorning
Let’s be diligent in flying together
A beauty that will adorn us
If this flight is really only ever seen once
Hopefully we hold on to the love that was shared
and found during this time
As families, as communities, as a people, as neighborhoods, as a nation.
Hold fast
Secure it
Draw together! Affirm!
