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Monday 14 August 2017

He wai - Kāhui students performing Hakuturi Toa

Here are some of our Year 9-10 students performing Hakuturi Toa on ukulele and marimba.

I composed this waiata for the Kiwi Conservation Club, whom I was commissioned to create a Māori name for in 2017. In the legend of Rata, the Hakuturi are the small creeping and flying creatures of the forest who rise up to protect it, and I thought it appropriate to offer this name to the young children in the club who take part in conservation activities throughout Aotearoa to look after our environment. Like the Hakuturi, although tamariki are small individually, together they can achieve much!

The waiata came to me one morning after I'd suggested the name, and I decided to offer it as a potential club song, with the aim of promoting conservation, music and te reo Māori alongside this. With only two chords it was an easy waiata for the Y9-10 ukulele students to learn in term 2, and here is their rendition:


Hakuturi Toa                                   
Nā Makaira Waugh                       Translation:                              Chords: F & C

Hakuturi Toa                                  Brave Hakuturi
E tū ki te ao                                   take your place in the world
Kimihia ngā taonga                       explore the wonders
O te tai o te wao                            of the sea and the forest,

Hakuturi Toa                                  Bold Hakuturi
Maranga mai rā                             rise up
Tiakina te whenua                         look after the land
Kia ora anō                                    that it may be well again,

Hakuturi Toa                                  Champion Hakuturi
He iti tō mahi                                 your effect is small
Ki te piri mai ahau                         but if I join you
He toa takitini                                how strong we can be,

Hakuturi Toa                                  Brave Hakuturi
Kia kaha rā                                    be strong
Hakuturi Toa                                  Brave Hakuturi
Maranga mai rā                             Rise up!

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