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Puaka

from Bird Like Men by Tararua

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about

Puaka is the Kāi Tahu dialect form of Puanga, the star also known as Rigel, an important signifier of the Māori New Year for some iwi. The lyrics of Puaka are written by Ruby Solly, and the string parts were written by bass player Phil Boniface.

lyrics

Puaka

me kā kapa

whetū

tohu o te tau


Wheriko i kā tohu

pūhihi whetū e

ki te toka

te toka


Dawn riser

our survivor

take my hand up to the hills

piki mauka

piki ora

scattered eyes shine

from the black

Nā te pō

ki te ao mārama


Te Tāua nui o te pō

“Piri mai”, she says

to her daughters six

each one of us are tasked

with a realm to hold

in my hands in their hands

water flowing through

Waitī, waitā

Waipunaraki

Tupuānuku

Tupuāraki

Ururaki

Hiwa-i-te-raki

Pōhutukawa

Matariki


Puaka Kai Rau

E Takurua

haere ki tō whaiāipō

these long cold nights are held by you

these long cold nights where memories swim

call their names to Pōhutukawa

cry their names to the black wind

‘til they light up the night - Burning through the black

credits

from Bird Like Men, released July 19, 2021

license

all rights reserved

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about

Oro Records Wellington, New Zealand

Oro records: a virtual ātea where the voices of taoka pūoro and the oro that feeds them combine, to wānaka, and share the gift of sound woven into the world around us.

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