The haka composed for the Christchurch commemoration

Here are the words to the haka specially commissioned by the Maori Council to commemorate the victims of the Christchurch shooting.

Haka Koiora – Haka for life

Paiahahā, Paiahahā (Attention! Attention!)

He aha rā ka tāpaea ngā mahi kikino (Why do we wait for something bad to happen)

Ki te kūkūtia tātou katoa e? (To eventually come together?)

Ia ha ha!

E oho, kia tika rā (Wake up, be true!)

Unuhia ngā here o te kino, (Strip away bad things like)

Whakatakē, whakaparahako e (Negativity and belittling others)

Ko te pūtake o te whakaaro, he kaikir (because the underlining factor is racism)

Takatakahia Hi (Stomp on it)

Wherawherahia Hi (Get rid of it)

Kia tū te tangata koia anake (So all that remains is your true person)

Ko au, Ko koe, ko koe, ko au, ko tāua e (I am you, you are me, this is us)

Ko te mea nui o te ao (The greatest thing in this world)

He tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata e (‘Tis people, ‘Tis people, ‘Tis people)

Hi!

Composed by Dr Ken Kennedy, Koro Tini and Jamus Webster