Our Kaikōmihana / Chief Children's Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad had the honour of reciting a karakia at the dawn service at Waitangi Day, February 6 2024.
Hou Ora, nā Ben Ngaia (Te Atiawa) speaks to the emergence and development of new life, new knowledge, new learnings and what that encompasses. It refers to a transition period in the developmental change of people and their environment.
Here we share both the te reo Māori and English versions of this karakia. You can hear Claire reciting it here on Facebook.
Hou Ora
Moe ararā te whiwhia i uta, moe ararā te rawea i uta
Moe ararā te iho me te hari ki tai
Ko hou tupua, ko hou ora
Ora ki te whakatupua, ora ki te whakatawhito
Kei te tuhi, kei te rarama, hura mai te rā
Tihe mōuri ora!
Tēnei rā te whakaputa nā te pū
Nā te weu, nā te aka, nā te tāmore
Nāku nā tēnei tamaiti, nāku nā tēnei tauira
Tū te ihi, tū te koko, tū te mana, tū te tapu
He tapu nā Rongo-mā-Tāne, nā Rongo-tau-matua-rua
Tāwhia ki te rangi, ki a Rehua
Ki a tama i te ao mārama
Ka tū te paki o Rūhī, ka tū te paki o Hewa, ka tū te paki o Rongo
Ko Rongo, ko Rongo, ko Rongo ki te whakatupua
Ko Rongo ki te whakatawhito
Ki te maimai aroha, he aroha
E Rongo e whakairihia ake ki runga, ki runga hai!
Turuturu ō-whiti, whakamaua, kia tina! Tina!
Tina te more i Hawaiki!
Te tāmore nui mō te oranga o ngā mokopuna!
Haumi e! Hui e! Tāiki e!
Hou Ora
Awaken within the elements of potential and permanence
Awaken the realisation of unlimited potential within
The foundations of new life, of new growth
Sustaining of life anew, sustaining of life from time immemorial
It is a spark, a gleam, revealing life in its entirety
Tis the sneeze of life!
Bring forth to this life the wisdom from its origin
From its rootlet developing forth the taproot
In which this child, the embodiment of our ancestors descends from
May your pride be elevated, acknowledged, honoured, revered
A reverance descending from Rongo-mā-Tāne, from Rongo-tau-matua-rua
Retained within the heavens, within Rehua
Within mankind, to the world of life and light
These treasures are realised on this day, sanctified by Rongo
For it is Rongo who embraces life anew
It is Rongo who nurtures life from its beginning
Through to life’s transition beyond the veil of sight, nurtured with affection and compassion
Rongo bring balance upon all things!
Let us be inspired, strengthened, emboldened
Sourced from our forebears
The foundations of life for those most precious
Tranquil peace! In unity! We strive forth!