MATAKITE
From a place in the future, I dream
Buffeted by wind, long hair
storm swept kelp
I stand strong on Sentinel Rock
Defying ocean wave, defying wind
Defying time
From the beginning, from the ending
From a great darkness, you have stood
Watching the same waters, we watch together now
Waters once paddled by my ancestors
Together
We are an island amongst
a galaxy of starfish
Te Kapu-Rangi, Arawa chief's daughter
Great, great grandmother
You saved by ruse, your own people
Once, you were a bright star of Matariki
From this place, I hear you call
Nau mai Haere mai,
Haere Haere
©Copyright January 2007 by Sue Baker-Wilson
Translations:
- Matakite – seer, second sight, prophecy, intuition
- Matariki – the Pleiades, legend has that the stars shine because of the doings of a great person on earth, and that when that person dies, the star that represents him or her goes out.
- Nau mai – welcome
- Haere mai – welcome, come here
- Haere, Haere – come on, come here