THE RIVER
He awa kawe kōrero, he awa kawe mahara
When you come to AWA, you’ll be on the lands of the people of Ngati Tahu–Ngati Whaoa. The awa is our heart, the essence of our identity.
The river is bound with the land
The Waikato river weaves through this rohe (territory), but the people of Ngati Tahu-Ngati Whaoa didn’t give it a name. For our tūpuna (ancestors), the river is inseparable from land – each part carried the name of the kāinga (village, settlement) that surrounded it.
A deep connection
The land doesn’t stop at the banks of the river. Ngati Tahu-Ngati Whaoa are deeply connected to every part of the river: to the riverbed, to the steep moss-covered banks, to the frothing Aratiatia rapids.
Whakahiwaia, whakahiwaia!
Whakahiwaia ki te karanga o te awa e rērere nei e
Whakahiwaia ki te reo o te awa e rērere nei e
Whakahiwaia ki te wairua, ki te mauri o te awa e rērere nei
He awa kawe ora, he awa kawe iho
Ko te awa ko au, ko au te awa
Ka tū! Ka oho! Ka mataara!
Listen!
Listen to the call of the awa flowing here
Listen to the voice of the awa flowing here
Listen alert to the spirit, to the life force of the awa flowing here
An awa that carries life, an awa that carries meaning
I am the river, the river is me
Stand! Be awake! Be aware!
- Jamus Webster (Kaihaka)
