He Mihi Atu
E ngā mana, e ngā reo
E ngā karangaranga o ngā herenga waka
Tēnā koutou i raro i te maru o Te Matua, Te Tama me te Wairua Tapu
Tēnā hoki koutou ngā kanohi ora o rātou
Kua wehe ki tua i te Arai
Haere e ngā mate, haere, haere, haere
Te Huka ora, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.
He Karakia Timatataka
He tapa tū a ko i uta -The inland boundaries have been defined
He tapa tū a ko i tai - The sea coast has been defined
He tapa tū a Tāne - Tane is responsible for the interior
He tapa tū a Takaroa - Takaroa is responsible for the sea
He kaha ko i uta - The inland areas are important
He kaha ko i tai - The coastal areas are important
He kaha a Tāne - Tane’s influence is very strong
He kaha a Takaroa - Takaroa’s influence is very strong
Hai tapa tū a Tāne - Tane stands for the land
Hai tapa tū a Takaroa - Takaroa stands for the sea
(Source: Kāi Tahu origin)
“No other mountain gives me this sense of isolation,
of detachment from earthly things.
On Aspiring there is no point which can compete,
no high neighbour to relieve the aloofness of the place.”
(Paul Powell, “Men Aspiring” - reprinted with kind permission of Conway Powell)