Anei rā ngā mahi e
Ā haka mana
Flick
Haere rā e hine
Haere mai te manuhiri
Haere Mai a Hana Koko Merry Christmas
He rā whānau koa...
Happy birthday...

He pipi māu e hine
He tangata pai rawa ia
For he's a jolly good fellow
Hei tira tira
I ngā wā o mua rā
I roto i tepara
Away in a manger
Kapokapo whetū iti
Kei hea te tuna?
Kina kina
Korero parirau
Korikori
Kua riro C. A. T.
Mā is white
Mahunga... Heads, shoulders, knees..
Manu iti,
Me kā harikoa koe
Moemoeā
Motokā iti rawa e
Ngā Rā o Te Wiki Oma rāpeti,
One day a taniwha
Pāpā hipi mangu
Tahora nui
Tangi tangi pere
Jingle bells
Te Matuku i Hea?
Whakawhiti rori
NEW  ZEALAND
FOLK*SONG

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Waiata for Pre-schoolers

Most of these were copied from the late Toby Rikihana's wonderful
resource book, Waiata Māori, with grateful thanks.


You can hear many
of them on this CD
and accompanying songbook produced
by the Hataitai Playcentre.

And there are lots
more kids' waiata,
mostly by Ngaroma
Williams, in this
lovely booklet.
Open the PDF file
here and print off
your own copy.

Moemoe pepe



Moemoe pepe, moemoe rā    
Moemoe pepe, moemoe rā
Hokimai māmā, āpōpō        
Hokimai māmā, āpōpō.
      Dreamtime baby, drift away to dreamland

Come back to mummy tomorrow

An old lullaby for putting a tiny baby to sleep. Gently rock the baby in your arms and keep repeating the song, more and more softly, until it nods off. Nowadays some people sing a more pedantic version, "E moe pepe,e moe rā, hoki mai a māmā āpōpō."

Moemoeā


Moemoeā, kia ngawari tō ha
Moemoeā, taku tamaiti
Te kakara e te rangimarie.
Moemoeā, kia ngawari tō ha
Moemoeā, taku tamaiti.
      Dream on, may your breathing be easy
Dream on, my child
May the fragrance bring you peace.
Dream on, may your breathing be easy
Dream on, my child.

When we were kids, our mother used to rub Vix on our chest when colds made breathing difficult and kept waking us up. Maori mothers used to boil manuka leaves or crush the seedpods, and breathing the fragrant oily vapours relieved their baby's blocked nose and congested chest.


Oma rāpeti

Key of D. Tune: Run Rabbit Run.
Oma rāpeti, oma rāpeti
Oma, oma, oma
Oma rāpeti, oma rāpeti
Pūhia te kaiako

Pako pako pako
Ko te tangi ō te pū
Oma rāpeti, oma rāpeti
Oma, oma, oma
      Run rabbit, run rabbit
Run, run, run
Run rabbit, run rabbit
Shoot the teacher

Bang, bang, bang
goes the farmer's gun
Run rabbit, run rabbit
Run, run, run

Kina Kina

Key of D. Tune: Ten Little Indian Boys
D Kina - Kina
Wheke - Wheke
A7 Ika - Ika
Tuna - tuna
D Pipi - Pipi
Paua - paua
A7 Kaimoana e D hi!

Koura - koura 
Toheroa - toheroa
Kahawai - kahawai
Tuatua - tuatua
Karengo - karengo
Kuku - kuku 
Kaimoana e hi
      Sea egg - sea egg
Octopus - octopus
Scaly fish - scaly fish
Slimy eel - slimy eel
Sandy white shellfish
Abalone - abalone
They're all food from the sea!

Crayfish - crayfish
Big yummy shellfish
Greeny-blue coastal fish
Big low tide pipi
Red lettuce seaweed
Green-lipped mussel
They're all food from the sea!

Manu iti



Thanks to the Ngaio Playcentre crew who sang this for us.

Manu iti i runga te rakau,
I runga te rakau,
I runga te rakau.
Manu iti i runga te rakau
Waiata mai ki ahau
      Little bird up in the tree
up in the tree,
up in the tree.
Little bird up in the tree
Sing a song to me

 

Anei rā ngā mahi e

     
Key of E
Anei rā ngā mahi e
Runga matau, maui e
Heke, iho, haere waho
Hoki waenganui

Aue! Matau maui e
Aue! Matau maui e
Aue! Matau maui e
Hopehope huri, aue!

Kei te hīkoi
Kei te hīkoi
Peke whakamuri
Peke whakamua
Rekereke kōnui
Rekereke kōnui
Whatiwhati tō hope

Kei te whana
Kei te whana
Haere ki te taha
Haere ki te taha
Takahia kia kaha
Pakipaki ō ringa
Hopehope huri, aue!
      Here are the hands' actions
Up right, left too
Drop down, go outward
Return to the middle

Aue! Right and left
Aue! Right and left
Aue! Right and left
Sway and turn. Aue!

Go walking
Go walking
Jump back
Jump forwards
Heel, big toe
Heel, big toe
Snap your waist (swing your hips)

Now the kick
Now the kick
Move to the side
Move to the side
Trample firmly
Clap your hands
Sway and turn. Aue!


I Roto i Whare Hei

I was asked for a Te Reo version of Away in a Manger
with the same meaning and the same solid rhythm as this.....

aWAY in a MANger
no CRIB for a BED
the LITtle lord JESus
lay DOWN his sweet HEAD
the STARS in the BRIGHT sky
looked DOWN where he LAY
the LITtle lord JESus
aSLEEP on the HAY.

....so I wrote these kupu.
Enjoy singing them with your mokopuna when they act the Nativity out at Christmas.
And send me improvements if there is a better way of translating this.
John Archer, Dec 2016

i ROto i TEpara
eHAra moenga PAI
te PEpe iti Ihu
i taKOto reiRA

nga WHEtu i te RAngi
i tiTIro iHO
i te PEpe iti Ihu
i te MOE i te HEI

whakaOho te PEpe
i te MU-mu o te KAU
eNGAri pepe Ihu
e KOre taNGI

aRIki a Ihu
tiAki aHAU
i TOku moEnga
noa Ata raWA
I roto i tepara
ehara moenga pai
te pepe iti Ihu
i takoto reira

Nga whetu i te rangi
i titiro iho
I te pepe iti Ihu
i te moe i te hei

Whakaoho te pepe
i te mu-mu o te kau
engari pepe Ihu
e kore tangi

Ariki a Ihu
tiaki ahau
i toku moenga
noa ata rawa
In a stable
not a good bed
the little baby Jesus
was lying there

The stars in the sky
looked down
upon the little baby Jesus
sleeping in the hay

The baby is woken up
by the moo moo of a cow
but baby Jesus
does not cry

Lord Jesus
protect me
in my bed
until morning

Kua riro C. A. T.

Key of A
Kua riro C. A. T.
I te rapu R. A. T.
I te taha o te pari
E keri ana he kīore

Peke atu C. A. T.
Ki te hopu R. A. T.
I te taha o te pari
E kata ana ko te tori.
      C. A. T. has gone
to search for R. A. T.
By the side of the cliff
the rat is digging

C. A. T. jumps forth
to to catch R. A. T.
By the side of the cliff
the cat is laughing.

A Haka Mana

Key of C
C
Ā haka mana para tawa ngāwhā

Ē heke mene pere tewe ngewhe
F
Ī hiki mini piri tiwi ngīwhī
C
Ō hoko mono poro towo ngōwhō
G7 F
Ā Ē Ī Ō Ū
C
Ū huku munu puru tuwu ngūwhū !
     

Tohora nui

Key of C : Tune of Making Whoopee!

Tohora nui,
tohora roa
Tohora tino mōmona
Tohora whiuwhiua,
Tohora piupiua
E kau ana te moana

Poaka nui
Poaka toa
Poaka tino mōmona
Poaka kunekune
Poaka whiore koro
Poaka hongihongi i te paru e!
      Big whale,
long whale
very fat whale
fling (your tail) whale
wave (your tail) whale
swimming in the ocean

Big pig,
Brave pig,
Very fat pig
A Captain Cooker
with a curly tail
Snorting around in the mud


Haere mai a Hana Koko

Tune: We wish you a Merry Christmas.
Haere mai a Hana Koko, x 3
Mā runga te rei.
Kia hari, kia koa, x 3
Mō Hana Koko!
      Come, come, Santa Claus
by flying overhead.
Be happy, be joyful
About Santa Claus.

Tangi tangi pere

Tune: Jingle Bells.

koneke, a sledge with rear wheels


A koneke was a horse-drawn sledge with rear wheels, used on many New Zealand farms until about the 1950s.

Tangi tangi pere
Tangi tangi pere
Tangi tangi tonu rā
Tino pai te harere
Ma runga to koneke - hei!
      Ring, ring bells
Ring, ring bells
Ring non-stop all the way
The holiday is so good
On top of your sledge - yay!

He pipi māu e hine

Key of D
He pipi māu e hine
He kuku māu e tama
Tiwaro pūpū
He pōhā kina
He pōhā kina

He pāua māu e hine
He kehe māu e tama
He kōura whero
Kei runga karengo
Kei runga karengo
      A sea shell for you girl
A mussel for you boy
Separate the pūpū
A kit of kina
A kit of kina

A pāua for you girl
A rock cod for you boy
cooked crayfish
karengo as relish
karengo as relish

Mā is white

Key of E
   
Mā is white, whero is red, kākāriki green
Pango is black, pangu is too, A. E. I. O. U.

Kōwhai yellow, pākākā brown, kiko-rangi blue
Pa-raka-raka is our orange, A. E. I. O. U.

Wera is hot, maku wet, makariri cold
Ua is rain, mahana warm, A. E. I. O. U.

Tahi is one, rua is two, toru number three
Whā is four, rima is five, 1, 2, 3, 4 ,5

Ono is six, whitu is seven waru number eight,
Iwa is nine, tekau is ten, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10


Kapokapo whetū iti

Kapokapo whetū iti
Hua ahau he aha koe
Runga rawa i te ao
Hei tiamana i te rangi
Kapokapo whetū iti
Hua ahau he aha koe
      Twinkle, twinkle little star
how I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high.
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle little star
how I wonder what you are


Haere mai te manuhiri

Key of E
Haere mai te manuhiri, haere mai
Haere mai te manuhiri, haere mai
Nō runga te manuhiri
Nō raro te manuhiri
Nō te tū, nō te tā
Hei hā !
      Welcome visitors, welcome
Welcome visitors, welcome
the visitors from north
the visitors from south
from here, from there
Hei ha !

Pāpā hipi mangu

      
Key of D
Pāpā hipi mangu
He wūru ano au?
Ae e pā ae e pā
E toru peke kī
tahi mā te māhita
tahi mā te kuia
tahi mā te tama iti
Tangi ana i te ara
      Baa baa black sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir
Three bags full
one for the master
one for the old lady
one for the little boy
crying down the road

Hei tira tira

      
Key of E
Hei tira tira
Te poti me te whira
Te kau hūpeke te maramu
Katakata te kurī
Ki tana mahi pai
Ka oma te rīhi me te pune
      Hey diddle diddle
the cat and the fiddle
the cow jumped the moon
the dog laughed
at that good work
the dish and the spoon ran away.


I ngā wā o mua rā

      
Key of D
I ngā wā o mua rā
Noho ai ngā tūpuna
Roto i o pā
Runga i ngā puke rā

Kite au ngā whare nei
Muri tīwhatawhata nei
Wharepuni iri rā
Whare whakairo nui

Tirohia te tangata
Karanga ai, "Kia hiwa rā"
Runga i te pūhara
Hei mata-ara i ngā wā
      In the days of long ago
the ancestors lived
in their fortified villages
on top of hills

I see the houses
behind pallisades
small sleeping houses
large carved houses

Look at the man
Calling out "Be ever watchful"
on the sentry platform
forever alert

Motokā iti rawa e

Key of E.
A classic old funny song. The car being sung about was probably the Model-T Ford of the 1920s.

"Kūpai" for "good bye" was used informally during and after World War One, especially on the East Coast.

Motokā iti rawa e
Māku e taraiwa e
Tangi ana te kānga
beep beep beep
Kūpai e te iwi e
Hōmai te aroha e
Maybe I can see
Maybe e putiputi
Right here on my .....
     
Tiny little motor car
I'll drive you
The horn sounds
beep beep beep
Goodbye everybody
Give me your love
Maybe I can see
Maybe its a flower
...some part of the body

A trimmed-down variant has evolved for kohanga reo, with "proper" Maori words.

Motokā iti rawa e
Māku e taraiwa e
Tangi ana, tangi ana
Uka, uka! Uka uka!
Ka kite e te iwi e!
      Tiny little motor car
I'll be the driver.
Keep tooting, keep tooting
Oo-gaa! Oo-gaa!
See you later everyone!

Korero Parirau

      Key of D.

Korero, parirau
Hopehope, pakipaki
Hurihuri, hurihuri
Huri - Ki runga! NOTE
Hurihuri, hurihuri
Huri - Ki raro!

Korero, parirau
Hopehope, pakipaki
Pekepeke, pekepeke
Peke - E tū!

Korero, parirau
Hopehope, pakipaki
Oma-oma, oma-oma
Oma - E tū!

Korero, parirau
Hopehope, pakipaki
Kanikani, kanikani
Kani - Kia tau!
     
Talk with you hands, flap your arms like wings
Hands on your hips, clap your hands
Turn, turn
Turn - arms up high!
Turn, turn
Turn - arms down by side!

Talk with you hands, flap your arms like wings
Hands on your hips, clap your hands
Jump, jump,
Jump - stand to attention!

Talk with you hands, flap your arms like wings
Hands on your hips, clap your hands
Run, run,
Run, run,
Run - stand to attention!

Talk with you hands, flap your arms like wings
Hands on your hips, clap your hands
Dance, dance,
Dance - and now stop!

NOTE
On the Youtube track here, they sing "Ki ruka," the South Island variant of "Ki runga."

Me kā harikoa koe

Me kā harikoa koe
Takahia
Me kā harikoa koe
Takahia
Me kā harikoa koe
ka mūmura to kanohi
Me kā harikoa koe
Takahia.

...Rū mahunga

...Papaki ringa

...Takuhuri

...Peke atu

...Peke mai

...Whawhati turi etc etc
      If you're happy and you know it
stamp your feet
If you're happy and you know it
stamp your feet
If you're happy and you know it
then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it
stamp your feet

...Shake your head

...Clap your hands

...Turn around

...Jump ahead

...Jump back

...Bend your knees etc

Whakawhiti rori

Key of D
Whakawhiti rori
I te ao i te pō
kia tūpato ngā waka
e rere nei
Titiro maui
Titiro matau
E kore rawa koe
E tukia
      When you cross the road
by day or night
be careful of the traffic
that looms in sight
Look left
Look right
and you'll never be
run over

Haere rā e hine

Key of A.   This is on the Kiri -Maori Songs CD - MP3

Haere rā e hine ki Mokoia
Ki reira noho ai
Kaua rā e hine a wareware
Ko au tō pūmau
      Go then girl to Mokoia
And there stay
Don't forget girl
That I am your faithful lover

Happy birthday to you

Key of G. Everyone knows this tune, nei?

A simple version

Rā whānau koa
Rā whānau koa
Ki a koe e Hone
Rā whānau koa

Happy birthday
Happy birthday
To you Hone
Happy birthday

And a version with proper Maori grammar, but with more difficulty fitting the words all in.

He rā whānau koa ki a koe
He rā whānau koa ki a koe
He rā whānau koa e ..........
He rā whānau koa ki a koe.  
      A happy birthday to you
A happy birthday to you
A happy birthday to ......
A happy birthday to you.  

Notice that the old meaning of 'whānau' is as a verb 'to be born.'
The modern use of 'whānau' as 'family' indicates 'those closely related by birth.'

For He's a Jolly Good Fellow

Key of D. Everyone knows this tune too, eh?
He tangata pai rawa ia
He tangata pai rawa ia
He tangata pai rawa ia
Ko irā tō matou ki
      For (s)he's a jolly good fellow
"A person good very is (s)he "
For (s)he's a jolly good fellow
And so say all of us.

One day a taniwha

This now has its own webpage HERE

Ngā Rā o Te Wiki

      Key of E

Ko te Mane, Rātahi, mahi au e
Ko te Tūrei, Rārua, whai moni au e
Ko te Wenerei, Rātoru, hoko kai au e
Ko te Tāite, Rawhā, kua raru au e
Ko te Paraire, Rārima, mutu au e
Rāhoroi, Hātarei, horoi kaka
Ko te wiki, Rātapu, karakia au e.
Apōpo ko te Mane, koi whakatā au e.
On Monday, the first day, I work
On Tuesday, the second day, I receive my pay
On Wednesday, the third day, I buy food
On Thursday, the fourth day, I am embarrassed (no money)
On Friday, the fifth day, I finish my work
On Washday, Saturday, I wash the clothes
Every week, on Sunday, I go to church.
As tomorrow is Monday, I will now take my rest.

Ngā Rā o Te Wiki was specially added for a little girl in Singapore.

Mahunga, Pakihiwi

Tahi, rua, toru, wha!
Mahunga, pakihiwi, puku, hope, waewae
Mahunga, pakihiwi, puku, hope, waewae
Mahunga, pakihiwi, puku, hope, waewae
Taringa, mata, ihu, waha, e!
One, two, three, four!
Head, shoulder, tummy, hips, legs
Head, shoulder, tummy, hips, legs
Head, shoulder, tummy, hips, legs
Ears, eyes, nose, mouth, yeah!


Pakipaki Tamariki Ma

Pakipaki, pakipaki, tamariki ma(x2)
Kanikani, kanikani, tamariki ma (2)
Rere, rere, rere, rere, tamariki ma(x2)
Peke, peke, peke, peke, tamariki ma (x2)
Hurihuri, hurihuri, tamariki ma (x2)
Hikoi, hikoi, hikoi, hikoi, tamariki ma(x2)
Oma, oma, oma, oma, tamariki ma (x2)
Titiro, titiro, tamariki ma (x2)
E moe, e moe, tamariki ma (x2 )
Pakipaki, pakipaki, tamariki ma (x2)
Clap, clap children.
Dance
Fly
Jump
Turn
March
Run
Look
Sleep
Clap


Mahunga, pakihiwi . . . (Head shoulders knees and toes)

Tahi, rua, toru, wha!
Mahunga, pakihiwi, puku, hope, waewae (x3)
Taringa, mata, ihu, waha, e!

One, two, three, four!
Head, shoulder, tummy, hips, legs
Ears, eyes, nose, mouth, yeah!


Kei hea te tuna?

Kei hea te tuna? Kei hea te tuna?
Kei roto i te awa! Kei roto i te awa!

Kei hea te tuna? Kei hea te tuna?
Kei raro i te toka! Kei raro i te toka!

Kei hea te tuna? Kei hea te tuna?
Kei roto i te hinaki! Kei roto i te hinaki!

Kei hea te tuna? Kei hea te tuna?
Kei roto i te hangi! Kei roto i te hangi!

Kei hea te tuna? Kei hea te tuna?
Kei roto i te rourou! Kei roto i te rourou!

Kei hea te tuna? Kei hea te tuna?
Kei roto i taku PUKU!
  Where is the eel?
In the river


Under the rock


In the eel trap


In the earth oven


In the food basket


In my TUMMY!

Korikori

Whakaohotia!
Whakatoroa ō ringa,
Me ō waewae,
Pioioi ō hope (Ana)

Chorus:
Korikori, korikori,
Oreore - timata!
Korikori, korikori,
Kanikani!

Whakaohotia!
Whakatoroa ō ringa,
Me ō waewae,
Pioioi ō hope .
Titakataka tō upoko,
Takarure ō ringa,
Me ō waewae,
Whakaohotia!

Me pehea te kori o tō tinana?
Ka mahi tamariki ma!

Loosen up!
Stretch those arms,
and your legs.
Sway your hips. (Repeat)

Chorus:
Busybodies, busybodies,
Let's move - lets go!
Busybodies, busybodies
... dance!

Loosen up!
Stretch those arms,
and your legs.
Sway your hips.
Wobble your head.
Shake your hands,
and your feet.
Loosen up!

How does your body like to move?
Well done children!


Buy the CD HERE

Flick
          I'm a little fire engine, Flick is my name

(C) He waka patu ahi au
Ko Flick taku ingo(G)a
Kaore ratou i a hei
Kia whawhai ahi (C) e
Tetahi ra ka tukua au
He tino kaha (F) e
Tangitangi pere
(C) karanga
(G) Karanga ki te waka
Karanga ki te waka
Karanga ki te waka,
(C) Flick
I'm a little fighting vehicle,
Flick is my name,
They won't let me go with them,
to fight fires.
One day I'll be big
and very strong
The bell rings
calling
Calling for the engine
Calling for the engine
Calling for the engine
Flick

He waka tino paku au
Ko Flick taku ingoa
Kaore au e patu ahi
Aue te aroha!
Ki araki ake au
Ka patu ahi e
Kei te mura ra
te taone
Karanga ki te waka
Karanga ki te waka
Karanga ki te waka,
Flick

I'm a little fighting vehicle,
Flick is my name,
I'm forbidden to fight fires,
Alas, the grief!
To leader I'll grow to
and I'll fight fires.
When burning down
is the town,
call for the engine
call for the engine
call for the engine
Flick

Te Matuku i Hea?

Te matuku i hea?
Te matuku i Wai-aua.
Te matuku i hea?
Te matuku i Tanga-hoe.
Te matuku i hea?
Te matuku i Hinga-hope.
Te matuku i hea?
Te matuku i Pa-tea.
Te matuku i hea?
Te matuku i Whenua-kura.
Te matuku i hea?
Te matuku i Wai-tara.

He matuku, aha te matuku?
Matuku tautiaki,
tau arowhaki, tau arowhaki
te whakarongo, manawa,

te korero te whakarongo
a te wananga

Whakatikaia kia tika
whakatonuhia kia tonu,
hau kia tonu.

He matuku, aha te matuku?
Matuku tautiaki,
Tau arowhaki, tau arowhaki.

Where's the bittern from?
It's from Waiaua
Where's the bittern from?
It's from Tangahoe
Where's the bittern from?
It's from Hingahape
Where's the bittern from?
It's from Patea
Where's the bittern from?
It's from Whenuakura
Where's the bittern from?
It's from Waitara.

Oh bittern, what's the bittern's job?
You will be a guardian, o bittern
rustling your wings, rustling your wings
so that anyone listening will become anxious
(a faster beating heart)

when your voice is heard
just like someone giving instructions.

It must be accurate,
it must be just right
an exact imitation.

Oh bittern, what's the bittern's job?
You will be a guardian, o bittern
rustling your wings, rustling your wings.

Turi, the captain of the Aotea, whose people settled near Patea, left a bittern inside Rangitāwhi, his pallisaded pa, when he and his people had to leave it unoccupied. Any stranger approaching might hear the rustling of the bird's wings, and its cry of Hu! Hu! Hu! and believe that some people were still inside the pa.


Pōkarekare Ana
and Hurihuri are also suitable for preschoolers.

Other Maori Songs - Main Song List - Home

Published on NZ Folksong website 28 March 2002.
Overhauled Sept 2016 and Sept 2023