Karakia and waiata | By Dot

Every morning, unless it's raining, our class M13 and M10, M12, M14 and M11 do a karakia (blessing) and waiata (song) outside before we start the day. 

Our waiata is called E Tu Kahikatea.

E tu kahikatea

Hei whakapae ururoa

Awhi mai awhi atu

Tatou tatou e

Stand like the kahikatea (tree)

To brave the storms

Embrace and receive

We are one together

(This version has a few extra verses but it helps with the tune):

  Our karakia says:

Whakarongo ki te tangi ā te manu i runga i te rangi - Tui, tui, tuituia!

Tuia i runga, tuia i raro

Tuia i roto, tuia i waho

Tuia i te here tangata

Ka rongo te ao, ka rongo te po

Tīhei mauri ora!

Listen to the call of the bird up in the sky - bind, bring together, bind, bring together.

Bind the things above, bind the things below,

Bind the things inside, bind the things outside.

Bind all the people together.

Listen to the sounds of the day, listen to the sounds of the night.

Sneeze, the breath of life!