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Oma räpeti,
Anei rä ngä mahi e
Kua riro C. A. T.
Tahora nui
He pipi mäu e hine
Mä is white
Kapokapo whetü iti
Haere mai te manuhiri
Päpä hipi mangu
Hei tira tira
I ngä wä o mua rä
Motokä iti rawa e
Me kä harikoa koe
Whakawhiti rori
Haere rä e hine
He rä whänau koa ki a koe Happy Birthday to You
He tangata pai rawa ia For He's a Jolly. Good Fellow
One day a taniwha
Ngä Rä o Te Wiki

Mahunga, pakihiwi... Heads, shoulders.. .

Kei hea te tuna?

Korikori
Flick

NEW  ZEALAND
FOLK*SONG

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Waiata for Pre-schoolers

Most of these were copied from the late H T Rikihana's wonderful resource book, Waiata Mäori, with grateful thanks.

Oma räpeti,

Key of D. Tune: Run rabbit, run.
Oma räpeti, oma räpeti
Oma, oma, oma
Oma räpeti, oma räpeti
Pühia te kaiako

Pako pako pako
Ko te tangi ö te pü
Oma räpeti, oma räpeti
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

Anei rä ngä mahi e

Key of E
Anei rä ngä mahi e
Runga matou, maui e
Heke, iho, haere waho
Hoki waenganui
      Here are the actions
Up right, left too
Down, go outward
Return to the middle

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 kïore

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.

Tohora nui

Key of C : Tune of Making Whoopee! Play this little Making Whoopie sound file.


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

      Big whale,
long whale
very fat whale
fling (your tail) whale
wave (your tail) whale
swimming in the ocean

He pipi mäu e hine

Key of D
He pipi mäu e hine
He kuku mäu e tama
Tiwaro püpü
He pöhä kina
He pöhä kina

He päau mäu e hine
He kehe mäu e tama
He köura whero
Kei runga karengo
Kei runga karengo
      A sea shell for you girl
A mussel for you boy
Separate the püpü
A kit of kina
A kit of kina

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

Mä is white

Key of E     Play this MP3
Mä is white, whero is red, käkäriki green
Pango is black, pangu is too, A. E. I. O. U.

Köwhai yellow, päkäkä 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
Whä 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 whetü iti

Kapokapo whetü iti
Hua ahau he te koe
Runga rawa i te au
Hei tiamana i te rangi
Kapokapo whetü iti
Hua ahau he te 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
Nö runga te manuhiri
Nö raro te manuhiri
Nö te tü, nö te tä
Hei hä !
      Welcome visitors, welcome
Welcome visitors, welcome
the visitors from north
the visitors from south
from here, from there
Hei ha !

Päpä hipi mangu

Key of D
Päpä hipi mangu
He würu ano au?
Ae e pä ae e pä
E toru peke kï
tahi mä te mähita
tahi mä te kuia
tahi mä 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 hüpeke te maramu
Katakata te kurï
Ki tana mahi pai
Ka oma te rïhi 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 ngä wä o mua rä

Key of D
I ngä wä o mua rä
Noho ai ngä tüpuna
Roto i o pä
Runga i ngä puke rä

Kite au ngä whare nei
Muri tïwhatawhata nei
Wharepuni iri rä
Whare whakairo nui

Tirohia te tangata
Karanga ai, "Kia hiwa rä"
Runga i te pühara
Hei mata-ara i ngä wä
      In past times
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

Motokä iti rawa e

Key of E. A classic old funny song
Motokä iti rawa e
Mäku e taraiwa e
Tangi ana te känga
beep beep beep
Küpai e te iwi e
Hömai te aroha e
Maybe I can see
May be e putiputi
Right here on my .....
      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 sunflower
...some part of the body

Me kä harikoa koe

Me kä harikoa koe
Takahia
Me kä harikoa koe
Takahia
Me kä harikoa koe
ka mümura to kanohi
Me kä harikoa koe
Takahia.

...Rü 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 pö
kia tüpato ngä 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 rä e hine

Key of A. This is on the Kiri -Maori Songs CD - MP3
Haere rä e hine ki Mokoia
Ki reira noho ai
Kaua rä e hine a wareware
Ko au tö pümau
      Go then girl to Mokoia
And there stay
Don't forget girl
That I will be forever faithful

Happy birthday to you

Key of G. Everyone knows this tune, nei?

A simple version

Rä whänau koa
Rä whänau koa
Ki a koe e ......
Rä whänau koa
              "Day of birth joyful"
Happy birthday
To you .....
Happy birthday
           

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

He rä whänau koa ki a koe
He rä whänau koa ki a koe
He rä whänau koa e ..........
He rä whänau koa ki a koe.
      "A day of birth joyful to you"
A happy birthday to you
A happy birthday to ......
A happy birthday to you.
Note that the old meaning of 'whänau' is as a verb 'to be born.'
The modern use of 'whänau' 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 irä tö 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

Key of C. Tune : You are my Sunshine. Play the midi.
One day a taniwha
Went swimming in the moana
He whispered sweetly in my taringa
Won't you come along with me
There's such a lot to see
Underneath the deep blue sea.

I said oh käore käore käore
I have to haere haere haere
Although I know we could be friends
My mother is waiting for me
Underneath the köwhai tree
Taniwha oh haere ra.

Ngä Rä o Te Wiki

Key of E
Ko te Mane, Rätahi, mahi au e
Ko te Türei, Rärua, whai moni au e
Ko te Wenerei, Rätoru, hoko kai au e
Ko te Täite, Rawhä, kua raru au e
Ko te Paraire, Rärima, mutu au e
Rähoroi, Hätarei, horoi kaka
Ko te wiki, Rätapu, karakia au e.
Apöpo ko te Mane, koi whakatä 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.
Ngä Rä 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

Pökarekare Ana and Hurihuri are also suitable for preschoolers.

Other Maori Songs - Main Song List - Home


published on NZFolksong website 28 March 2002.