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What are karakia and why are they used? Te Aka Māori dictionary provides the following definitions
What are karakia and why are they used? Te Aka Māori dictionary provides the following definitions
1. (verb) (-tia) to recite ritual chants, say grace, pray, recite a prayer, chant.
2. (noun) incantation, ritual chant, chant, intoned incantation, charm, spell - a set form of words to state or make effective a ritual activity. Karakia are recited rapidly using traditional language, symbols and structures. Traditionally correct delivery of the karakia was essential: mispronunciation, hesitation or omissions courted disaster. The two most important symbols referred to in karakia are of sticks and food, while the two key actions are of loosing and binding. Individual karakia tend to follow a pattern: the first section invokes and designates the atua, the second expresses a loosening of a binding, and the final section is the action, the ordering of what is required, or a short statement expressing the completion of the action. The images used in karakia are from traditional narratives. There were karakia for all aspects of life, including for the major rituals, i.e. for the child, canoe, kūmara, war party and the dead. Karakia for minor rituals and single karakia include those for the weather, sickness, daily activities and for curses and overcoming curses. These enabled people to carry out their daily activities in union with the ancestors and the spiritual powers.
3. (noun) prayer, grace, blessing, service, church service - an extension of the traditional term for introduced religions, especially Christianity.
A further description and explanation is provided in Te Ara; https://teara.govt.nz/en/traditional-maori-religion-nga-karakia-a-te-maori/print
This longer article discusses karakia and their origins. It also provides some background information about the well-known karakia 'Whakataka te hau...'.
As you read it, perhaps you can consider the following questions:
How did the ideas expressed in the reading match up with what you already know about karakia?
What surprised you or what was new to you?
Is there anything you heard that has changed your thinking about karakia?
In this document, you will see some responses to those questions and some further reflection that is interesting. How does it compare to your whakaaro?
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dsb_R9N_4OcwSJlymZ39sJV4-d-FJfTjZlQvfcTaaps/edit?usp=sharing
I came across this podcast recently. It has an interesting kōrero about karakia and the way that they should be said. Worth a listen.
The use of karakia in everyday life has beeen thrown into the spotlight recently when the mayor of Kaitaia banned karakia being said at councile meetings. This article and short interview explores the story more deeply;
Tikanga educator Blackie Tohiariki (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Te Aroha) says karakia is a Māori word and shouldn't be translated.
"Karakia is clear and clean cut, it takes a religious spin when, in your organisation words like Lord, God, Amen - those types of words are used - then it is religious and you can call it a prayer if you like. But karakia is not a prayer.
"Karakia is karakia. You've got ka - it ignites - ra - connectivity and kia is the essence of your voice, the tone of your voice, your sincerity, the words you are saying."
He says a karakia is appropriate to do "any time".
He aha ou koutou whakaaro? What do you think?
Here are two videos you can use to sing this karakia. The first has the words on the video which you could use as you learn it, then progress to the one without words.
Here are two videos you can use to sing this karakia. The first has the words on the video which you could use as you learn it, then progress to the one without words.
These are 'karakia timatatanga' that you can use to open the day or a hui.
These are 'karakia timatatanga' that you can use to open the day or a hui.
'Kia hora te marino' is a traditional Maori blessing that is used by lots of schools because it is short and secular
Below there is a video of someone saying it with the words on the slide, next to it is a beautiful rendition of it by Christopher Tin. While the opening wordless chorus is evocative of the maritime imagery found in much Maori writing, the song also makes use of two traditional forms of oratory: the haka, a ritualistic choreographed group dance, and the whaikorero, a form of speechmaking used to unite the collective will of the people.
Rukuhia te ata o te whakairo
Rukuhia te ata o te wānanga
Rukuhia te ata o te wharekura.
Whano, whano, hara mai te toki,
Haumi ē, hui ē, tāiki ē!
Delve deep into the image of carving,
Delve deep into the essence of knowledge,
Delve deep into the image of the schooling,
Proceed! Advance! Welcome the adze!
Unite! Assemble the (vessels), ribs and hull!
Tukua te wairua kia rere ki ngā taumata
Hai ārahi i ā tātou mahi
Me tā tātou whai i ngā tikanga a rātou mā
Kia mau kia ita
Kia kore ai e ngaro
Kia pupuri
Kia whakamaua
Kia tina! Tina! Hui e! Tāiki e!
Allow one's spirit to exercise it's potential
To guide us in our work as well as our pursuit of our ancestral traditions
Take hold and preserve it
Ensure it is never lost
Hold fast
Secure it
Draw together! Affirm!
Manawa mai te mauri nuku
Manawa mai te mauri rangi
Ko te mauri kai au, he mauri tipua
Ka pakaru mai te po
Tau mai te mauri
Haumi e, Hui e, Taiki e!
Embrace the energy from the earth
Embrace the energy from the sky
The energy I have gathered is strong
And destroys darkness
Come, great energy
Join, gather, it is done!
Tēnei te mauri ka piki ake ki te rangi e tū nei
He rangi ātua, he rangi tipua, he rangi tāwhito
Kia whiti, kia whiti ko te mātauranga
Kia tau, kia tau ko te māramatanga
Whāia kia tata, puritia kia mau
Haumie e, Hui e, Tāiki e!
This is the vital essence
Rising up to the sky above
Tis a divine, supernatural and sacred day
To shine, to shine in knowledge
Let us know, knowing through understanding
Follow closely, and hold fast
Gather, secure, unified!
Karakia mō te kai
Karakia mō te kai
Nau mai e ngā hua
o te wao
o te ngakina
o te wai tai
o te wai Māori
Nā Tane
Nā Rongo
Nā Tangaroa
Nā Maru
Ko Ranginui e tū iho nei
Ko Papatūānuku e takoto nei
Tuturu whakamaua
Kia tina! TINA! Hui e! TĀIKI E! I
These are 'karakia whakamutunga' that you can use to close the day or a hui.
These are 'karakia whakamutunga' that you can use to close the day or a hui.
Kia whakairia te tapu
Kia wātea ai te ara
Kia turuki whakataha ai
Kia turuki whakataha ai
Haumi e. Hui e. Tāiki e!
Restrictions are moved aside
So the pathways is clear
To return to everyday activities
Unuhia, unuhia
Unuhia ki te uru tapu nui
Kia wātea, kia māmā, te ngākau, te tinana, te wairua i te ara takatā
Koia rā e Rongo, whakairia ake ki runga
Kia tina! TINA! Hui e! TĀIKI E!
Draw on, draw on,
Draw on the supreme sacredness
To clear, to free the heart, the body and the spirit of mankind
Rongo, suspended high above us (i.e. in 'heaven')
Draw together! Affirm!
Tūtawa mai i runga
Tūtawa mai i raro
Tūtawa mai i roto
Tūtawa mai i waho
Kia tau ai te mauri tū
Te mauri ora ki te katoa
Haumi e, hui e, tāiki e!
Come forth from above
Come forth from below
Come forth from within
Come forth from the environment
Vitality and wellbeing for all
Strengthened together in unity
Tēnei te mauri ka heke iho ki te whenua e takoto nei
He rangi ātua, he rangi tipua, he rangi tāwhito
Kia whiti, kia whiti ko te mātauranga
Kia tau, kia tau ko te māramatanga
Tēnei ka hikitia kia wātea
Haumi e, Hui e, Tāiki e!
This is the vital essence
coming down to lay on the earth
Tis a divine, supernatural and sacred day
To shine, to shine in knowledge
Let us know, knowing though understanding
Lifted up to clear the way
Gather, secured, unified
Kia tau ki a tātou katoa
Te atawhai o tō tātou Ariki, a Ihu Karaiti
Me te aroha o te Atua
Me te whiwhingatahitanga
Ki te wairua tapu
Ake, ake, ake
Amine
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all
Forever and ever
Amen
The following are karakia for wellbeing, you can use them at any time of the day to settle, to reset, to reflect
The following are karakia for wellbeing, you can use them at any time of the day to settle, to reset, to reflect
Hā ki roto
Hā ki waho
Kia tau te mauri e kokiri nei
I ngā piki, me ngā heke
Ko te rangimarie tāku e rapu nei
Breathe in,
Breathe out
Settle the mauri that stirs inside of me,
Through the ups and downs,
it is peace that I seek
Mā te rā e kawe mai te ngai ia rā ia rā.
Mā te mārama e whakaora i a koe i waenga pō
Mā te ua e horoi ōu māharahara
Mā te hau e pupuhi te pākahukahu ki roto I tō tinana
I roto i ōu hīkoitanga i te ao kia whakaaro koe ki te hūmarie ataahua hoki o ōu rā mō ake tonu atu
Tīhei Mauri ora
May the sun bring you energy every day
May the moon softly restore you by night
May the rain wash away your worries
May the wind blow new strength into your being
May you walk on this earth in peace all the days of your life and know its beauty for ever and ever.
You will find more karakia and waiata on this site. They include sound files as well.
You will find more karakia and waiata on this site. They include sound files as well.
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