Building confidence and develop understanding in selecting the right karakia for the right context.
It is important we can recognise what karakia is needed and for what purpose. Kaupapa (motivation and context) is important here.
When do we use a karakia? Do karakia have different functions?
Who is the right person to do the karakia?
Karakia is often about the intention of the person, as much as the karakia itself.
It is important to think about who is the best person to recite the karakia.
The three main contexts or scenarios in which you might use a karakia in the workplace or learning settings are:
Opening a meeting or gathering (karakia timatanga)
Closing a meeting or gathering (karakia whakamutunga)
Gratitude and giving thanks for food (karakia mō te kai)
Whakataka te Hau is another karakia timatanga for opening proceedings
'Whakataka te hau ki te uru
Whakataka te hau ki te tonga
Kia mākinakina ki uta
Kia mātaratara ki tai
E hī ake ana te atakura
He tio, he huka, he hau hū
Tīhei mauri ora!'
Whakamāramatanga/Explanation:
'Cease the winds from the west
Cease the winds from the south
Let the breeze blow over the land
Let the breeze blow over the ocean
Let the red-tipped dawn come with a sharpened air.
A touch of frost, a promise of a glorious day'
*This karakia comes from Takirau Hohua (Tainui) who turned this into a waiata that is now often sung in schools at the beginning of the day's work. It originates from a longer karakia used in the South-Westland about a waka facing a tough journey north.
Kia tau is a nice short closing or karakia whakamutunga
'Kia tau kia tātou katoa
Te āio, te aroha me te marutau
Tihei Mauri Ora'
Whakamāramatanga/Explanation:
'May peace, love, and safety
Be upon us all
Tihei Mauri Ora'
And finally, Kua horahia te kai karakia mō te kai (for food)
'Kua horahia te kai
Nā ngā atua i homai
Tane Mahuta
Haumiatiketike
Rongomatane
Tangaroa
Kia ora'
Whakamāramatanga/Explanation:
'This food has been laid out before us
Given to us by the atua
Tane god of the forest
Haumia god of cultivated kai
Rongo god of kumara and peace
Tangaroa god of the sea
Thank you all'
*This karakia for kai is used by the University of Otago, among other institutions.
Here are some pātai (questions) to support your whaiwhakaaro (reflection).
| How do I say/pronounce ____ in Māori? | He aha te kupu Māori _____? |
| What does ______ mean? | He aha te kupu ____? |
| Can you repeat that? |
Kōrero mai anō? |
| Is my pronunciation right? | Kei te tika taku whakahua i te kupu ___? |
| Why? | He aha i pērā ai? |
| What made it so? | Nā te aha i pērā / pēnā ai? |
| What is your thinking? | He aha tō whakaaro? |
| What is your knowledge? | He aha tō mōhio? |