Moana Maniapoto

RANGIKANE

Moana Maniapoto


Moutere i te râ ngâ whetû
There's an island near the sun
Miri moana mâhû
Where the stars kiss the ocean blue 
Te tauâkî nô te wâ mua, tçnei
Where the people for a thousand years did say 
Te rangimârie, te aroha noa
Let there be peace, let there be love 
kia mau, kia maimoa 
It's time, I'm coming home 

kua ngaro noa râtou, ngâ tongi i mahue mai
Though I haven't seen them, for a thousand years 
e ora tonu nei
their words remain 
Me mutu râ, te hû o te nguha
Let there be no more fighting 
Te mate tangata, kia tau te ara rongomau
No more dying, let peace set us free 

Rangikane ana, Rangikane ana
Can I take a minute, can I take some time 
Kia mahara ki a râtou
To remember their names 

Tç tûtaki mâtou, rongo tonu ahau
Though I never met them, I can feel them hear beside me 
i te reo wairua
and I know what they're thinking 

Tôrea iho râ te tohinga o Rongo, 
The ancient covenant of peace rises again, and casts itself over the island of Rekohu 
ki runga o Rçkohu, Mû, Wheke, ka eke Rongomaiwhenua
the covenant originating from ancestors such as Muwheke and Rongomaiwhenua 
Toitû te whenua, toitû te moana, toitû te tangata
Ensuring the land, the ocean and the people remain in a state of constant peace and tranquility
Mano tau rongomau, rau tau Wharekauri
For 1000 years the covenant was maintained, 
until recently when the name Wharekauri, came into being.
Ka tû Te Kopinga hei tûnga mô te motu hei tauwhiro i te iwi, Moriori tûâuri
And now Te Kopinga is born, 
a sacred foundation for the island,
A source of protection and shelter, 
for the ancient Moriori people.
Hutia ko te mate, hutia ko te ora
Who always stated, 
let life or death be in the hand of the gods 
I te pô uriuri, i te pô tangotango i te ao tângata
not in the hands of man. 
Hutia ko te mate, hutia ko te ora
Let life or death be in the hand of the gods 
Rçkohu haumako e.
And so Rekohu flourishes.