Nei Rā te Kaupapa (Tawhiro Maxwell & Te Okeroa Huriwaka)

I asked Professor Te Kahautu Maxwell (Waikato University) about one of our favourite waiata, Nei Rā te Kaupapa, and was grateful to receive a reply. 

He says...

This waiata was composed by Te Tawhiro Maxwell and Te Okeroa Huriwaka in 1995 in Ōpōtiki. Both composers are of Te Whakatōhea iwi of Ōpōtiki.

Nei rā te kaupapa ko te reo Māori e.

He taonga tuku iho nā ngā tīpuna.

Hei parekawakawa, hei mea hirahira e.

Tōku reo toku ohooho, māpihi maurea, whakakai mārihi.

Kōrerotia te reo i ngā wā katoa.

Kia kore e rite ki te moa.

Mana tangata, mana motuhake.

Tōku reo toku ohooho, māpihi maurea, whakakai mārihi,

Tōku reo toku ohooho, māpihi maurea, whakakai mārihi.

This subject is the Māori language.

A gift handed down by the ancestors.

As an adornment, something to be proud of.

My language is my awakening, a jewel of high quality.

Speak the language at all times.

So is does not become extinct like the moa.

The language is a unique quality, that empowers mankind.

My language is my awakening, a jewel of high quality.

My language is my awakening, a jewel of high quality

Here is a karaoke version by Te Kura o Ruataniwha, Kaiapoi North School.

Kapahaka don't "go up" because we haven't worked out the chords yet.

Version with the chords we play. (You can download here).

Toku reo, toku ohooho māpihi maurea whakakaimārihi 

(G, A7, G, A7, D)

Nei rā te kaupapa Nei rā te kaupapa ko te reo māori e (D, A7, Bm7)

He taonga tuku iho nā ngā tipuna (G, D, A7)

he parekawakawa, he parekawakawa he mea hirahira e 

(D, A7, Bm7)

Toku reo, toku ohooho māpihi maurea whakakaimārihi 

(G, A7, G, A7, D)

Korerotia te reo Korerotia te reo i ngā wa katoa (D, A7, Bm7)

Kia kore e rite ki te Moa (G, D, A7)

Mana tangata, Mana tangata mana mōtuhake (D, A7, Bm7)

Tōku reo, tōku ohooho māpihi maurea whakakaimārihi 

(G, A7, G, A7, D)

mārihi 

Nei rā te kaupapa ko te reo māori e (D, A7, Bm7)

He taonga tuku iho nā ngā tipuna (G, D, A7)

he parekawakawa he parekawakawa, he mea hirahira e

(D, A7, Bm7)

Toku reo, toku ohooho māpihi maurea whakakaimārihi

(G, A7, G, A7, D)

Korerotia te reo Korerotia te reo i ngā wa katoa 

(D, A7, Bm7)

Kia kore e rite ki te Moa (G, D, A7)

Mana tangata, Mana tangata mana mōtuhake 

(D, A7, Bm7)

Tōku reo, tōku ohooho māpihi maurea whakakaimārihi (G, A7, G, A7, D)

Tōku reo, tōku ohooho māpihi maurea whakakaimārihi