Lyrics

       I stand at Te Aratītaha
       And look towards Te Urewera
       My old war veterans
       My extraordinary brave warriors
5     You, who died on the battlefield of O-Rākau
       Rest in peace

       The tears continue to pour forth ceaselessly
       Creating a well of tears in my eyes for my esteemed ones
       Who now rest in the bosom of the land

10   The indistinct cries of the multitude in the underworld fill my ears
       I endeavour to listen to the laments of the windows for the menfolk of Mataatua

       They came from Te Urukāraerae
       They came from Te Rehu o Tainui
       They came from Te Tini o Hinepūkohurangi

15   The enduring pain thrills my heartstrings
       Which are torn with the departure of this illustrious

       My tōtara forest has been decimated
       It is mourned at Manawarū
       and at Wharepūhunga alike

20   The descendants of Tūhoe Pōtiki are lamented and grieved over

Explanation

Since I was young I can recall my elders retelling the bravery of Ngāi Tūhoe who came to aid our people in battle at O-Rākau. Since that time, up until today I still feel a great deal of compassion for the children of the mist. As we, the O-Rākau Heritage Society Committee, prepared the battle site for the 150th memorial of the war, I felt angry. I could feel their spiritual presence and asked the question, amongst other things, ‘Where exactly do you lie?’ I began to cry, the words came and the tune followed, and this song was born.

1. Ka tū au ki runga o Te Aratītaha:
This is the pā where Ngāi Tūhoe and Ngāti Raukawa gathered before leaving for battle at O-Rākau. Rewi Maniapoto visited Te Aratītaha and tried to convince Tūhoe to return home but to no avail.

8. He hōpuapua i aku kamo mō te huinga o te kura:
The chiefs and people of Tūhoe who died.

9. E moe mai nā i te moremore o te whenua:
If you visit the true battle site of O-Rākau, you’ll find it’s a flat paddock, there’s nothing to mark where the people are buried.

10. Hīrearea noa rā te tangi a te iwi nui i te pō:
I could hear their murmurs in my ears, both physically and spiritually.

12. Kī ngā maimai aroha a ngā pouwaru mō te puhi o Mātaatua:
When Te Whenuanui returned to Ruatāhuna he was pelted with manawawera. The widows lamented their husbands who failed to return. This is Te Puhi o Mātaatua, these accounts are recorded in that manawawera.

13. I haramai rā i Te Urukāraerae:
This is the wind of Ruatāhuna. In Rūātoki the wind is Te Hau-o-Kiwa and at Waimana the wind is Tūtakangahau. Te Urukāraerae is also a symbol of the ferociousness of Ngāi Tūhoe.

14. I haramai rā me Te Rehu o Tainui:
This is a war atua of Ngāi Tūhoe. According to history the hau of this atua was brought to O-Rākau.

18. Ka turakina mai taku wao tōtara:
This line is taken from the manawera for Te Whenuanui. It encapsulates my own thoughts.

19. Ka tangihia rā i Manawarū:
Manawarū is the mountain at Ruatāhuna.

20. Ka tangihia rā i Wharepūhunga:
This is a Ngāti Raukawa mountain. Tūhoe camped here before traveling to Te Aratītaha.