Kua rongo ake au…
Kia tau te whakaaro pai
Aroha tētahi ki tētahi, āhurutia ā tātau tamariki
Ki te aroha, nā, he aroha pai ano hoki mōu ake
I have learned that…
It makes good sense to say
We are here to learn to love one another
And for the sake of our children, accept ourselves.
Kuo rongo ake au…
Ko au puāwaitanga o te kākano
I ruia mai i Rangiatea e kore au
E ngaro noa
I have learned that…
I’m a seed scattered across the Pacific
From my ancient home of Tawhiti
I will therefore never ever be lost
From Words of a Kaumātua by Haare Williams, edited by Witi Ihimaera
Dr Haare Williams MNZM has been Dean of Māori Education and Māori Advisor to the Chief Executive at Unitec. He was General Manager of Aotearoa Radio. He set up a joint venture with the South Seas Film and Television School to train Te Reo speakers as producers and operators in film and television. He has worked closely with iwi claimant communities and was responsible for waka construction and assembly at Waitangi for the 1990 commemorations. He has published poetry, exhibited painting and written for film and television. He was a cultural advisor for the Mayor of Auckland and is Amorangi at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Content Catnip 