Karakia (Prayers & chants)

Rukuhia te ata
Rukuhia te ata
Image sources: Matua A.I This karakia encourages people to seek knowledge and understanding deeply. It uses the imagery of carving and traditional learning spaces to represent the process of gaining... Read more...
E rere te kotare
E rere te kotare
Image sources: Matua A.I This is a simple karakia for children, to halt the rain. MāoriE rere te kotareKi runga i te puwharawharaRuru ai ia o parirauKei maku o kuao... Read more...
I hau noa mai i Hawaiiki
I hau noa mai i Hawaiiki
Image sources: Matua A.I MāoriOi ka tākina i te kawaKo te kawa nuiKo te kawa tapuKo te kawa tua ngāhuru mā whāKo te kawa waereaKo te kawa houhouKi ā PapatūānukuKi... Read more...
Urua ki te rā
Urua ki te rā
Image sources: Matua A.I This karakia is for the start of the day as the sun rises, however, consider it also metaphorically as the transition from te pō ki te... Read more...
Ka takina te kawa
Ka takina te kawa
Image sources: Matua A.I This karakia has to do with Tane's ascension to retrieve the three baskets of knowledge. MāoriKa takina te kawaKa takina te kawaKo te kawa tuatahiKo te... Read more...
Karakia mo te Toki
Karakia mo te Toki
Image sources: Matua A.I MāoriToki nui te tokiToki roa te tokiKo te toki nā Tu tēnei tokiKi te toki nā Rongo Ueue te manaKa hinga te rākau, ka takoto kei... Read more...
Waerea te tupua
Waerea te tupua
Image sources: Matua A.I Māori Waerea, waereaWaerea ki rungaWaerea ki raroWaerea ki rotoWaerea ki wahoWaerea ki ā RanginuiWaerea ki ā PapatūanukuTuku atu e tamaKia puta ki te Tāwhangawhanganui nō RongoE... Read more...
Waerea kia pure
Waerea kia pure
Image sources: Matua A.I This karakia uses different metaphors relating to the taiao to cleanse the negative and to free up a path for those present. It uses traditional references to Ranginui and Papatūānuku to refer... Read more...
Unuhia, unuhia
Unuhia, unuhia
Image sources: Matua A.I The word 'unuhia' has many meanings. It can mean to draw on or pull out. When used in this karakia it implies taking off and removing... Read more...
Tūtawa mai
Tūtawa mai
Written by Scotty Morrison, this karakia is used by many schools. It is used to centre and call on energy and vitality from the universe. Also, it is a karakia... Read more...
Inoi Karaitiana
Inoi Karaitiana
E te AtuaHomai ki a mātouTōu māramatanga,Tōu rangimārieTōu kaha, me tōu arohaWhakaorangia mātou i ngā tinimāuiuitangaĀke, ake, akeĀmine --- Dear LordGrant usYour enlightenment, your peaceYour strength and your loveSave us... Read more...
Pounamu te moana
Pounamu te moana
Image sources: Matua A.I MāoriKia hora te marinoKia whakapapa pounamu te moanaHei huarahi mō tātou i te rangi neiHaumi ē, hui ē, tāiki ē! EnglishMay peace be widespreadMay the seas... Read more...
Whakataka te hau
Whakataka te hau
Whakataka te hau ki te uruWhakataka te hau ki te tongaKia mākinakina ki utaKia mātaratara ki taiE hī ake ana te atākuraHe tio, he huka, he hauhūTihei mauri ora! Get... Read more...
Kia tau ki a tātou katoa
Kia tau ki a tātou katoa
This karakia is found in the Paipara Tapu (the Māori Bible), used widely all around Aotearoa. The translation of the New Testament into Māori was primarily the work of early missionaries of... Read more...
Kia turuki whakataha ai
Kia turuki whakataha ai
Kia whakairia te tapuKia wātea ai te araKia turuki whakataha aiKia turuki whakataha aiHaumi e. Hui e. Tāiki e! Restrictions are moved asideSo the pathways is clearTo return to everyday... Read more...
Whakapainga ēnei kai
Whakapainga ēnei kai
Image sources: Matua A.I MāoriE te AtuaWhakapainga ēnei kaiHei oranga mō ō mātou tinanaWhāngaia hoki ō mātou wairua ki te taro o te oraKo Ihu Karaiti tō mātou ArikiAke ake... Read more...
Nau mai e ngā hua
Nau mai e ngā hua
A karakia used before eating kai to pay respect to ngā atua Māori: Tane, Rongo, Tangaroa, Maru, Ranginui & Papatūanuku. MāoriNau mai e ngā huao te wao,o te ngakina,o te... Read more...
E Hine
E Hine
When Rātā ground his adzes (toki) on the back of Hine-tūa-hōanga she spoke the words, "Kia koi! Kia koi!" (Be sharp! Be sharp!) Whenever his adzes got blunt he would... Read more...