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Matariki, the glowing midwinter star cluster that announces a new-born year,
is used as a metaphor for the new-born Jesus whose Christmas star brought
light to the world with the message of love for the poor and needy.                   

Tō aroha he karere ki te ao. Puritia ko ngā kaupapa kia mau. Ngā tamariki toa, kei te rangi e, E haere ana e, taukiri e! Horohia e Matariki ki te Whenua Te māra-matanga mo te motu e Kia tipu he puawai honore Mo te pani, mō te rawakore e   Whakamau ko taku titiro   Te rerenga o te rā.   Tau ana te ahuru e   ki te manawa Horohia e Matariki ki te Whenua Te māra-matanga mo te motu e Kia tipu he puawai honore Mo te pani, mō te rawakore e Mo te rawakore e

Your love is the gospel to the world Adhere to the commandments. The missioners, to heaven, are now long gone, alas! Spread your light oh Matariki On to Mother Earth As a guiding light for this land May the seed become an honoured bloom for the poor, for the needy My gaze is transfixed to where the sun rises. Subdued is the palpitating heart. Spread your light oh Matariki On to Mother Earth As a guiding light for this land May the seed become an honoured bloom for the poor, for the needy. For the needy.

A more flowing English translation

To give you a closer understanding of each word in this song, I have re-arranged some lines of a more flowing translation I found in the Tuini Ngawai songbook. Here is Tuini's original translation.

Your love is the gospel to the world Adhere to the commandments The missioners are now long gone to heaven Shine thy glowing light oh Matariki On to Mother Earth As a guiding light for this land Nurture the bloom that it may blossom As an honoured bloom for the poor and needy My gaze is transfixed to the east The palpitating heart is subdued. Repeat verse 2

Matariki

Matariki is the dull glowing star cluster known to some as the Pleiades, Seven Sisters or Jewel Casket. When it appeared in June, in the winter sky of pre-European Aotearoa, it marked the beginning of a new year. The dead were remembered, and planning began for a new planting season.

Matariki literally means the 'eyes of god' (mata ariki) or 'little eyes' (mata riki). Some Maori legends say Matariki is a mother surrounded by her six daughters. One account explains that Matariki and her daughters appear to assist the sun, Te Ra, whose winter journey from the north has left him weakened... MORE

He'll Have to Go

The rangi tune that Tuini used is the September 1959 Jim Reeves hit song "He'll Have to Go" Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone, dear... So she probably wrote "Tō Aroha" a few months later, perhaps to commemorate the Maori New Year in June 1960.

 

Maori Songs - Kiwi Songs - Home

Published on this website March 2007