This is inspired by my summer scholarship research project at the University of Auckland. It was an enlightening study and I would like to share part of what I learned to shed some light on things. Features my youngest sister Fiona Erica on the chorus and both my sis Fee and my step sis Roseanna on laughter.
lyrics
Maoriness by Esoligh feat Fiona Erica with te reo Maori translation in the second verse by Hohepa Joseph Henare Maclean
Chorus - Fiona Erica
Flying above the clouds,
Above darkness' shroud,
That's where marie is found,
High above the ground
1st verse - Esoligh
This study uncovered the muddy,
Values guiding modernity,
Showing cultural shifts need to be,
Implemented, most naturally
Fostering n enabling community,
Aware of self most truthfully,
Paul, Ingo, Awhi and Rewi ,
Wise experts allowed me
To delve through understandably,
Developed understandings see,
Tangata whaiora showed up too,
which was usefully cool
This boom bappy beat,
Speaks reverentially deep,
About the summer weeks,
Finding inspiring treats
Sitting in seats,
Listening to holistic feats,
Learning useful deets
Chorus - Fiona Erica
Flying above the clouds,
Above darkness' shroud,
That's where marie is found,
High above the ground
2nd verse - Esoligh
Te Reo Māori nei rā
te hononga ki onamata
ki te punga e mau
tēnei taonga ka tau
Te mauri mana māori
arero pono te kī
koia rā hei ārahi
i rō te poho hāpori
Mātāpono aroha
hereherenga Te Arawa
te mea tata ngaro rawa
Nō roto te kāra...kia
me pēhea e hoki mai
ki tōna ahuareka pai
tēnā te āta panoni
arā, kia noho Māori
Translation:
Te reo Maori ake,
Linking us to the past lovely,
Hold to be ourselves,
A taonga in itself
The living language of Maori,
Tongues which spoke truthfully,
From a guided position,
Within close community
Of Maori values and aroha,
Binding force of Te Arawa,
Something almost lost to searches,
By those inside the churches
How is it we hoki Mai,
To something ka pai,
We must readopt gradually,
allowing ourselves to re be
Chorus - Fiona Erica
Flying above the clouds,
Above darkness' shroud,
That's where marie is found,
High above the ground
3rd Verse - Esoligh
It's clear to me,
For Maori to be healthy,
We need to be,
Included in the lived landscape
It is our identity,
Part of us centrally,
Papatuanuku earth goddess,
Our mother she doth bless
It's honestly incredible,
To know we’re all special,
To a greater power,
Inexhaustible aroha hour by hour
Simply know the links,
Whence we came instincts,
A balancing of energies,
Like reciprocal synergies
Mixing together ethnicities,
Melting like liberties,
Like this and like that,
Hit the beat like a bat
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