Ben Ngaia
He Karakia mō Puanga mā Matariki
Tuia i runga, tuia i raro
Tuia te here tangata i a Nukuārangi
Ki a Puanga Kai Rau, ki a Matariki Ahunga Nui
Tō mata tini me pā ki roto, tō mata tini me pā ki waho
Kia horahia te kura, he kura nui, he kura roa
He kura takatū mai i a rongotaketake
Ka rongo te pō, ka rongo te ao
Ka rongo i te ahi kā roa i tūārangi te whakaeke nei
Ka whakaeke te haukai kia tina
Ka whakaeke te haukai kia toka
Ka whakaeke te haukai kia uru ora
Whiti, whano, tau mai te mouri
Haumi e! Hui e! Tāiki e!
Woven from above, woven from below
Interlacing our fundamental virtues to be in balance with the celestial and humane realms
To Puanga and Matariki, bringing forth aspirations of kindness and generosity
May your divine countenance be imbued inherently, manifesting itself throughout the community
So that goodwill is declared, may it be strong and enduring
An enduring gift established on the pillar of peace
Resounding throughout times of hardship and times of abundance
Resounding are the fires of ancestral connection, from times immemorial that ascend forth
May the gifts shared from one to another be upheld
May these gifts be affirmed
May these gifts sustain life and its vitality, may it be enduring
Proceed forth with hope, bringing balance to our lives
Bringing people together as one!
Note that the English text is a contextualising (rather than a direct translation)
Where to find it
- Wheelchair accessible
About the author
Ben Ngaia (Te Āti Awa) grew up in Wellington and has worked in government, education and iwi development. He is passionate about te reo Māori me ōna tikanga as it pertains to his hapū and iwi. His picture book in te reo Māori, Ngake me Whātaitai, which tells the story of two taniwha of Te Whanganui-a-Tara, won the Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award in the 2021 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
His karakia Kimihia te Iho o te Rangi was gifted to Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne. Another karakia, Ko Hou Ora, was delivered at the dawn service in Wellington on Waitangi Day 2024.
huia.co.nz/blogs/author/ben-ngaia
Author’s photo credit: Image via New Zealand Book Awards Trust
About the sculpture
The sculpture’s text – ‘He Karakia mō Puanga mā Matariki’ by Ben Ngaia (Te Āti Awa) – was gifted to Wellington Writers Walk by Te Wharewaka o Pōneke. The text is reflected in the sculpture and landscape design, all strongly relating to Matariki. The waterfront location, near Te Papa and with a view of the harbour and towards Matariki as it rises, lends itself to engaging with Matariki mā Puanga and Matariki Ahi Kā celebrations, and to year-round reflection and contemplation.
