FISHING CEREMONIES 
85 
Mou ki tapu kaha nui o Tangaroa, 
Te waka tauiratia ana nmi e koe, 
Te kaka Tane, Tangaroa ko taku, 
Kaha, ko te kaha awai, 
Ko te kaha a Tama Titoko, 
Tena te kaha ka wiwi, 
Tena te kaha ka rawe, 
Tena te kaha ka, 
Mou ki mua waka, 
Mou ki roto waka, 
Mou ki tu ta mua o Tane, 
Mou ki Tapu kaha nui o Tangaroa, 
Mou ki tenei waka, 
Mou ki tenei Tauira, 
Ko koe te waka Tauiratia, 
Ana mai e koe te kaha, 
Tane Tangaroa, te wanatu, 
Taku kaha nei ki ware pouri o 
Tangaroa i tai, 
Te homai, 
Te kerea, 
Te notia, 
Te nota, 
Te waka maua ki tenei kaha, 
Te wanatu taku kaha nei, 
Ki ware hua kina o Tangaroa i tai, 
Te homai te herea te wakamaua, 
Ki tenei kaha, 
Tena te kaha ka wiwi, 
Tena te kaha ka rawe, 
Tena te kaha ka mou, 
Mou ki mua waka, 
Mou ki roto waka. 
Gained in the midst of the fish, 
The canoe is rendered sacred, 
The strength of Tane Tangaroa is 
my strength, 
The strength of whom ? 
The strength of Tama Titoko. 
Behold this is the strength gained, 
Behold this is the strength acquired, 
Behold this is the strength held, 
Before the canoe to be held, 
In the midst it is held, 
Before 0 Tane it is held, 
In the midst of the fish, 
Gained for this canoe, 
Gained for this spell, 
You are rendered sacred, 
You are made strong, 
Tane Tangaroa render prosperous 
My strength in the dark house of 
Tangaroa (deep sea), 
From the sea the giving, 
From the sea the binding, 
From the sea the fastening, 
From the sea the holding, 
From the sea the retaining by this 
strength, 
The prospering my strength, 
The opening of the door of Tanga¬ 
roa’s ocean house, 
The giving, the binding, the hold¬ 
ing film, 
By virtue of this spell; 
This is the strength gained, 
This is the strength obtained, 
This is the strength held, 
In front of the canoe, 
On the side of the canoe, 
Ko koe te waka Tauiratia ana mai, You have strengthened by the spell, 
E koe te kaha Tane Tangaroa, With the strength of Tane Tangaroa 
E rarawe taku ure ngaua. The biting of the fish. 
The first fish caught was returned to the sea, a karakia being 
