Karakia - Prayers

The more traditional karakia are poetic and full of beautiful imagery and metaphor. And there are not always appropriate English words that can fully reflect the essence of the Mäori words. Keep in mind that literal translations need to be thought of metaphorically.

The first small table contains links to flash versions of karakia. All the files in this section are really small and will load quickly. There is currently one fault - if you click to the next line of the karakia before the first line has finished, there will be a double layer of sound.

Karakia Link Information on Karakia File Size
Karakia Tïmatanga A karakia/prayer for the beginning of meetings 48KB
Karakia Whakamutunga A karakia for the end of meetings 53KB
Karakia - Kia Tau A karakia for the end of meetings 48KB
Karakia mo te Kai A karakia before meals 27KB

Other karakia and their translations can be found below.

Karakia in Mäori Translation
From Te Whare Wänanga o Awanuiarangi
Karakia Tïmatanga Prayer for start of day/meeting
Whiti ora ki te whei ao Cross over to life in the changing world
ki te ao märama. in the world of light and understanding.
Whiti ki runga, whiti ki raro. Cross upwards, cross downwards.
E ngungu ki te pöhatu Turn to the rock
e ngungu ki te räkau turn to the tree
tïtaha ki tënei taha leaning to this side
tïtaha ki tërä taha. leaning to that side.
Tihei mauriora.
Karakia in Mäori Translation
Is now used at the beginning of a day or a meeting - in the primary school context. Through e-mail it has been pointed out that this karakia was for if you were out at sea and a storm was approaching or the weather turned bad.
Karakia Tïmatanga Prayer for start of day/meeting
Whakataka te hau ki te uru. Cease the winds from the west.
Whakataka te hau ki te tonga. Cease the winds from the south.
Kia mäkinakina ki uta. Let the breeze blow over the land.
Kia mätaratara ki tai. Let the breeze blow over the ocean.
E hï ake ana te atakura. Let the red-tipped dawn come with a sharpened air.
He tio, he huka, he hau hü. A touch of frost, a promise of glorious day.
Tihei mauriora.
Karakia in Mäori Translation
Refer to the flash practice karakia Kia Tau
Karakia Mutunga Prayer for end of day/end of hui
Kia tau, ki a tätou katoa May we all join peacefully
Te atawhai o tö tätou Ariki a Ihu Karaiti Through the love and support of our Lord, Jesus Christ
Me te arohanui o te Atua And the love of God
Me te whiwhingatahitanga ki te wairua tapu And the unity as one through the holy spirit
Amine. Amen.
Karakia in Mäori Translation
Offered by the tamariki at my daughter's school.
Karakia Kai Prayer for food
E tö mätou matua Our Father
I te rangi whakamoemiti in the glorious heavens
Anga mätou ki a koe We turn to you
Mö te kai nei. To express our thanks for this food.
Amine. Amen.
Karakia in Mäori Translation
Offered by the tamariki at my daughter's school as a chant, but can be spoken - a more traditional prayer.
Karakia Kai Prayer for food
Kua horahia te kai This food has been laid out before us
Nä ngä atua i homai Given to us by the Atua
Tane Mahuta Tane god of the forest
Haumiatiketike Haumia god of cultivated food
Rongomatane Rongo god of kumara and peace
Tangaroa Tangaroa god of the sea
Kia ora. Thank you all.