Poroporoaki

Kua parekawakawatia ngā rae o te motu
The brow of the nation is adorned with kawakawa
Ka tōiri tonu ngā iwi
our bones continue to reverberate
I te horuhoru manawa
with the sobs of the heart
Ko te heke o waikamo
tears continue to flow
He paringa tai te rite
like the swelling of the tide
He ngākau tangi noa, he ngākau tangi noa
the sorrow of our heart knows no end
Koutou te mūrau o te tini,
for you the feared ones
Koutou te wenerau o te mano
for you the fabled ones
Ngā Ika a Whiro o te ope tuatahi
Our valiant warriors of the First World War
Tērā te hau maiangi
There is a gentle breeze that blows
E mirimiri ana i ōku pāpāringa
and caresses my cheeks
He rau mahara
it is a reminder
Ki te toa, ki te māia, ki te mumu
of your bravery, courage and warriorship
Ki a koutou ngā pakoko tawhito
to you my veteran soliders
I haere rā ki te matawhaura,
who departed for the great battle
ki te puta nui i Ūropi
to the fighting fields of Europe
Ko mātou tonu tēnei e noho hokehoke ana
we continue to sit here lonely
I a koutou
for you
E moe i te āiotanga o ngā mātua tīpuna
rest in the beatitude of our ancestors
Ko tō tauira tērā ka ārahi tonu i a mātou
your example is one we will forever try to emulate
Mātou ngā tore kaihuruhuru o ēnei rā
us of the edgling guard
Ko koutou tērā
you will forever more and always be
te toa mātāmua, te toa hopu mātāika ā haere ake nei...
the most noble of heroes, the most worthy of combatants...

Charisma Rangipunga