Ko Wairarapa Tenei

Ko Wairarapa Tēnei
Ko Wairarapa Tēnei
Tū ake nei
E karanga ki te iwi
Kua māwehe te pō
Kia hari rā nei
Mā te marama arataki
Kua haere te kapua
Kua rere te Kōtuku
Māhaki te kõauau
E hine e tama
Kia mau ki ngā kupu
Ā ngā mātua
Hei oranga mō te iwi Māori e
Me waiata te hari me te koa
Whakawhetai ki te Atua
Hāpaingia ngā mahi ā ngā tīpuna
Aue e Wairarapa e
Wai… ra… ra… pa… e
(kumekumea totoia, puritia kia mau, hi aua hi!)
Nā Tame Taurima 1980
Tame Taurima is of Ngāti Kahungunu descent and a very well know composer of waiata Māori. Some of his most famous compositions are Kotiro Māori, Ruāwharo and a waiata written for his beloved niece TeRina.
Tame spent time here in Wairarapa in the the late 70’s, early 80’s through his connections to the Mormon faith.
Ko Wairarapa Tēnei was written in the early 80’s and has become a well-known Wairarapa anthem. The kaitito himself has rewritten several versions of this waiata including versions for Maniapoto and Ngāti Wai.
The waiata begins by way of introduction and continues to celebrate the awakening of identity. Coming out of the darkness in to Te Ao Mārama (world of light and understanding), the dark clouds have dispersed and we rejoice in who we are.