Pōhutukawa

Pōhutukawa

Pōhutukawa

The person is dying, beginning their journey on the spiritual pathmate ana te tangata ka tīmata tōna hāere i te ara wairua
To the ancient pōhutukawa tree standing tall at the spiritual gatewayki te pōhutukawa tawhito e tū tonu mai rā i te rerenga wairua
Descending there through the vine of the treeka heke i reira mā te aka o te rākau
Under the vine lies the long vine, the dry vinekei raro o te aka ko te aka roa ko te aka maroke
The dry vine of the pōhutukawa does not reach the seako te aka maroke o te pōhutukawa kāore nei e tae ki te moana
It is the land of the spiritsko mauriānuku tēra
That is the entrance to the underworldkoia rā te tomokanga ki rarohenga

I bow to the pōhutukawapōhutukawa te tuohu nei au
Shining brightly in the nightmiramira mai i te pō
It is seenkōia e kitea
It is lostkōia e ngaro
I mourn for you in the nighte minamina au mōu i te pō
The sacred starte whetū tapu
The sacred star of the Pleiadeste whetū tapu o te kāhui matariki

Pōhutukawa, shine forthpōhutukawa ē tīaho mai rā
Shining brightly in the nighte miramira mai i te pō
A sign of lovehe tohu aroha
A sign of deathhe tohu mate
I am blinded in the nighte matapōrehu ana au i te pō
Guide the red feathersarahia te kura
Guide the red feathers to the celestial canoearahia te kura ki te waka o rangi

The great call is yours (yours)nōu te karanga nui (nui)
The great burden is yours (yours)nōu te kawenga nui (nui)
The sacredness of the pōhutukawate tapu o pōhutukawa e
(Fly away, celestial canoe)(rere atu rā e te kura)