Welcome to the spring in the world of light 

So named by Kupe 

Ārai-te-uru and Niniwa 

Were the guardians appointed by him 

 

Welcome to the harbour mouth 

To Pouahi, dwelling of Niwa 

ToTairutu landing place of Ngātokimatawhaorua 

Its leader was Nukutawhiti 

 

Draw closer to the healing waters 

Of Waitapu, Waikōmako, Waiotekauri 

To Pōhaturoa, fishing reserve 

To the sand-hills of Kahakaharoa 

 

Mātihetihe is out along the coast 

Tao Māui are the people  

Move on to Te Uri o Tai 

Of Whāngāpē and Pawarenga 

 

Travel on to Waikoropupu  

The pulse of Ninihi 

To Waiporoporoaki 

So named by Kōhinemataroa 

 

Panguru, Papata stand aloft 

So rich in oratory and dignity 

Further out stand Te Rēinga 

Tauwhare and Rākau Tūpatapata 

 

Waihou, Waimirirangi and the people 

Of Ngāti Te Rēinga and Waiariki 

Whakarapa is the settlement 

Panguru is the mountain and the 

People are Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Te Māra 

 

Motutī, Tamatea, Motukauri pā 

It's only a small place but it has been heard of 

It has blossomed 

And given a gift, a spiritual one 

 

Ngāi Tūpoto, the people of Motukaraka 

The meeting-house is Ngāhuia for 

Upon Ngāhuia mana was invested 

By the ancestor, Tūpoto 

 

A spirit of awe rested on the people 

Of lhutai whose ancestors are 

Buried at the Barrier and their 

Descendants live at Te Karae 

 

Paddle the canoe of faith 

The seeds were planted here  

At Māngungu and Tōtara (Point) 

 

Maungataniwha are the hills 

Kōhatutaka, the people of Mangamuka 

Puhi-Moana-Ariki is the meeting-house 

Nukutawhiti, the ancestor 

 

We look towards Whakarongorua 

Then to Whakatere, to Ramaroa, to Panguru 

And back to Maungataniwha, 

These enclose the basin of Hokianga