Hirinini Melbourne modified this song in remembrance for one of his University of Waikato students, Kiwi Tuteao, who died after going through a lot of adversity.
The first line has a phrase from the well-known proverb 'Hoki atu ki tōu maunga kia purea ai e koe ki ngā hau o Tāwhirimātea.' - Return to your mountain to be cleansed by the winds of Tāwhirimātea
The second line is from another version of that proverb 'Hoki kia purea koe e nga hau o ou maunga, kia horoia koe e te ua' - Let the winds of your mountains cleanse you, let the rain wash you, and the third line recalls the ancient phrase 'E whiti e te Ra! The Sun Shines!
KUPU MĀORI
Purea nei e te hau
Horoia e te ua (AaaAaa)
Whitiwhitia e te rā (AaaaAaaAaaaAaaaa)
Mahea ake nga pōraruraru (UuuuuUuuuUuuu)
Mākere ana ngā here.
E rere wairua, e rere
Ki nga ao o te rangi
Whitiwhitia e te ra (AaaaAaaAaaaAaaaa)
Mahea ake ngā poraruraru (UuuuuUuuuUuuu)
Makere ana ngā here,
Makere ana ngā here.
TRANSLATION
Cleansed by the wind
washed by the rain
and warmed by the sun,
all troubles are cleared away
and all restraints got rid of.
Fly O free spirit, fly
to the clouds in the heavens,
warmed by the sun,
with all troubles cleared away
all restraints got rid of,
all restrictions cast aside.