Te Whiri Kōkō Waiata

  •  This waiata is a call of welcome. It identifies who we are and the area we represent.
  • It was composed by Kahu Stirling (Te Whānau Apanui) in 2012/2013. Kahu, a prolific composer of waiata, poetry and te reo Māori resources, was the former HOD, Te Reo Māori, at Palmerston North Teachers’ College, Te Kupenga o te Mātauranga Marae. He was invited by Peter Te Rangi (Rangitāne) to compose this waiata.
  • Hariata Green (Ngāti Porou) later altered the tune and some words to encompass the Manawatū, Tararua, Horowhenua, Otaki and Kapiti areas. 
  • Te Whiri Kōkō is a name unique to our region. It refers to the flight of a large flock of birds and implies forward movement. Whiri conveys our cluster moving together, united.

 

Te Whiri Kōkō Waiata

Karanga, karanga, karanga...

Haramai ki a mātou
nā te karanga
ō te whānau nei
Te Whiri Kōkō e

Ō Tāmaki-nui-a-Rua
tae atu ki Manawatū
Horowhenua
Ōtaki, Kapiti.

Nei rā te mihi
e rere atu nei
karawhiti mai rā
Te Whiri Kōkō e

Ō Tāmaki nui-a-Rua...

Nei rā te mihi
e rere atu nei
Karawhiti mai rā
Te Whiri Kōkō e
Karawhiti mai rā
Te Whiri Kōkō e

 

Come and join us, welcomed
by the call
of the whānau
of Te Whiri Kōkō

We are of Tararua
to Manawatū
Horowhenua
Ōtaki and Kapiti

This is our greeting
Going out to you
Come join us (welcome)
Of Te Whiri Kōkō (whānau)

 

This is our greeting
Going out to you
Come join us (welcome)
Of Te Whiri Kōkō (whānau)