Waiata 5
nā ngā Ika-a-Whiro o Te Panekiretanga
14.2.09
Tutungia te hatete o te reo’ meaning ‘ignite the fire of the language’ is a waiata composed by Leon Blake and
Pania Papa at Te Panekiretanga o te Reo (The Institute of Excellence in the Maori language) and illustrates the use of the metaphor likening fire to the health of the
language. This waiata is sung nationally.
E te akunga houhare
Oh you the industrious rank
tutungia te hatete o te reo
ignite the fire of the language
kia kongange, kia pūkauri
so that it blazes, and burns fiercely
kei pūrēhua, ka piroku, ka kewa
lest it flickers indistinctly, and eventually extinguishes
Ko te kanaku whitawhita
A healthy fire is by
o Kōingo, o Nako
both yearning, desire
me ngiha!
kept alight
Ponitakatia kia pūāhuru te noho
Surround yourself so that you are warmed
"Taku ahi tūtata, taku mata kikoha"
When my fire is close the point of my weapon is sharp. (This is a metaphor for when a cause (fire) is close to ones heart and interest, then the commitment, passion (point) is always greater.)
Ko te kanaku whitawhita
A healthy fire is by
o Kōingo, o Nako
both yearning, desire
me ngiha!
kept alight
Ponitakatia kia pūāhuru te noho
Surround yourself so that you are warmed
"Taku ahi tūtata, taku mata kikoha"
When my fire is close the point of my weapon is sharp
Kei pūrēhua, ka piroku
lest it flickers and get extinguished
kia kongange, kia pūkauri
so that it blazes, and burns fiercely
tutungia te hatete o te reo!
ignite the fire of the language
"Taku ahi tūtata, taku mata kikoha
When my fire is close the point of my weapon is sharp
te kanaku whitawhita o te reo e...hi!"
The healthy fire of the language.
