Kōtuku

Ēhara ēnei āhuatanga ka kite ia rā, ia rā 

Ko te tūmanako nā te puku mahi ngātahi

He mōmōhanga ngā mahara ki tēnei wā

Ka rongo i ngā rōhi 

Ahakoa ētahi wā e huna ana i te otaota, 

Āwhina atu ki te tohungia 

Hākina 

Hā puta

Nāwai, nāwai 

Ka kake ki te rangi

He kōtuku rerenga tahi 

Ona awe kua waiho iho hei piki kōtuku

Kia kaha ki te rere ngātahi, ngātahi

Hei piki kōtuku

Mehemea kotahi anake te rerenga ka kite 

ko te wawata ka pūmau 

ki te aroha noa kua puta I tēnei wā. 

ā-whānau, ā-hapū, ā-iwi, ā-hāpori, 

ā-whenua

Tuturu whakamaua kia tina!

Haumi e, hui e

Taiki e!

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Kōtuku - a translation

These things don’t happen everyday

Hopefully, because we were working together

We can remember this time fondly

We can smell the roses

Though sometimes they can be lost in the weeds

We can help each other find them

Breathe in 

Breathe out

Eventually

Rising in the sky…

The kōtuku only ever seen once

It’s plumes left behind for our adorning

Let’s be diligent in flying together

A beauty that will adorn us

If this flight is really only ever seen once 

Hopefully we hold on to the love that was shared 

and found during this time 

As families, as communities, as a people, as neighborhoods, as a nation.

Hold fast

Secure it

Draw together! Affirm!