Waitī

This work was commissioned by Chor 2024 as part of the choral cycle ‘Matariki He Kāhui Reo’ to be premièred at the 13th World Choir Games in Auckland for performance by Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir (director: Karen Grylls).The choral cycle involved no fewer than eight choirs, six composers and three lyricists and was Aotearoa New Zealand’s signature offering at the World Choir Games 2024. Devised by creative team John Rosser, Robert Wiremu and Ataahua Papa, the work celebrates the nine identified whetū (stars) of the Matariki cluster.

Waitī is one of the nine whetū of the Matariki cluster and is associated with fresh water. The kupu (lyrics) and translation for this work were provided by Ataahua Papa: 

Me hoki ki te wai

Tōku awa koiora me ōna pikonga 

He kura tangihia o te mātāmuri

Ko au ko te awa

Ko te awa ko au 

Te papa tākaro o ngā taniwha rau, o tuoro 

Ko Tangaroa ararau 

He tūhono, he tauhere 

Nō Maunga whakahī ki Moana

Nō Tangata ki Tupuna 

Nō Whakaaro ki Maumahara 

Roto, runga, raro

Ko ōna rerenga takatū 

Ko ōna rerenga riporipo

Ko ōna rerenga āio 

Ko te wai māori 

Ko te oranga 

Ko te mauritau

Return to the water [is a saying of the people]. 

The river of life, each curve more beautiful than the last [describing Waikato river]

I am the river
and the river is me
The playground of taniwha, of mythical creatures 

The many pathways of Tangaroa
connecting worlds and realms
from mountain to ocean
from human to ancestors
connecting thoughts to memories
inside, above, below

Strong flow
Swirling flow
Calm flow, gentle rippling Fresh water
Life
Settling of spirit