tutira mai ngā iwi

This waiata-ā-ringa was written by Wiremu "Wī" Te Tau Huata CBE QSO MC, a New Zealand Anglican priest and military chaplain of Ngāti Kahungunu.

Huata wrote "Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi" while part of an Ecumenical Movement in the late 1950s. He was driving from Wairoa, Hawke's Bay with his children and passed Lake Tūtira. He would sing the lyrics and his children would repeat them, learning it as they drove to Napier. 

Today, the addition of this waiata is widely referred to as the anthem of Aotearoa.

ko te pū

This karakia we use in waiata to describe some of the life cycles that Māori speak of. This creation cycle refers to the germination of a seed and it's growth until it's eventual death and rebirth.

All of these kōrero reflect the cyclic nature of thinking that is integrated in all our reo and waiata.

The tohutohu-ā-ringa that are used to illustrate the waiata are fun for all ages, but help particularly with the tamariki as they learn the kupu.

ko taku ihomatua

He waiata tira nō te tau 2023