Kua rongo ake au….
Kia kaha rā te puāwaitanga o tōu kaha
Kei konā rā te puāwaitanga o tōu rangatirangatanga
I have learned that…
We can enjoy our jobs by changing our attitude
Always do more than what you’re paid for,
One day you’ll be paid for more than you do
Kua rongo ake au
I te wā whakanui ana ahau i tētahi atu
Ka mōhio tonu ahau ko wai au kei whea au
I have learned that…
Every time we say ’Thank you’ we are affirming,
’I accept what I have and where I am’
Kua rongo ake au…
Mā te karakia mā te īnoi, mā te noho puku
Ka taea e au ngā mea katoa
I have learned…
That I can call upon a karakia
When I look for solutions to the
Challenges that face me.
Kua rongo ake au…
I tēnei rangi tonu toro atu
Tōu ringa ki tō tamaiti, whāngaia tōu hinengaro
Patua he waea ki tetahi atu, ki atu,
’Ko au e whakaaro nui atu nei, kia kaha’
I have learned…
Today reach out
Hug your child
Pat a cat, appreciate our country,
Phone someone today and say, ’I care…’
Kuoa rongo ake au…
Akakoa iti noa te kuru pounamu
He taonga tuku iho kia kaha, kia toa, kia māiai, kia mataara
kia manawanui
I have learned…
A thoughtful note to someone you’ve avoided
Saying sorry will go a long way
Kua rongo ake au…
Mehemea koe e hiahia ana kia hīkaka ake koe
Hoatu ko tōu ki tētahi atu kia tau ai ō rātau hinengaro
I have learned…
Ko ngā kirehe o te rangi, o te whenua
Tae noa atu ki a tātau ko te pā tinana
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.
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