Introduction:

E Tama - nā Teone Taare Tikao i homai ki a Herries Beattie i te tau 1920.

Little is known about this oriori aside from what exists in Beattie's manuscripts but it is said to be the fourth song dictated to Herries Beattie by Teone Taare Tikao at Rāpaki, 18 November, 1920.

The original tune is not known but the melody here has been created by Holly Weir-Tikao, great-great-granddaughter of Teone Taare.

The following information and translation comes from the Beattie manuscripts along with a note made by Beattie that there could be discrepancies or mistakes due to the dictation process.

This waiata reflects the mana of pregnancy and birth. It is a creation waiata bringing in the moon, sun and the fourth wife of Mākū. This old waiata was sung to settle a crying pēpi whilst being nursed. Nestled among the soothing lyrics are stories of the ancient past.

The waiata is said to acknowledge the gestation period and growth of the pēpi over the nine months whilst in utero, moving into place to be born as the moon's pull encourages him to come forth, but not before he has fully formed.

There is a warning or guidance in this oriori to ensure the child is fully prepared into his/her form, is robust and sturdy, and has taken the time to ensure these vital core elements to his/her form, mind and journey ahead are in place.

It captures the excitement in anticipation of the arrival of this pēpi.

The oriori uses the metaphor of a tree, which is often a reference for life and growth (Beattie, 1920; Best, 1942; Riley, 1994).

It refers also to Tānemahuta’s feat of raising his father, Rakinui, away from his mother, Papatūānuku, in order to create light for their children.

The caution comes when the oriori tells the child to avoid the winter months or long periods of rain, as this makes it difficult for people to come and assist or be present at the birth and to support the whānau.

The final part of the oriori could be interpreted as the final guidance or tautoko being imparted to the unborn child to come forth into the physical world full of light; the stars are shining and the atua have blessed their journey (Beattie, 1920).

Kupu:

E tama hoki koe nāhaku e whakaputa nei koi i te rā o tu waru
Kai te putanga i tua, kai te putanga i whea, kai Te Huareare
I puta mai rā koe, e tama
I a Te Moretū, I a Te Moremau, I a Te Moretaketake
Kīhai i ea i a Te Mākū ngā pou a Tawhiti, ngā pou a tō tipuna āhua torikiriki
I whakarerea anō ki a Te Po-rangahau, a ki te Poutū mai o waho, a ki te Poutū mai o roto, a ki te Pou heretī, a ki te Pou heretā, ki te Pou hakohako
Ko te Ao tūroa, ko te Ao Mārama, ko whatiwhati pea e tama te tai nui e ka whakakana ngā kanohi o te rangi e tū nei

Translation:

Oh son, return to me bringing forth this vitality in the sun for eight months.
Brought forth by you, appearing on this side where it is Te Huareare.
Brought forth in time by you, oh son, in the time of Te Moretū (the tree is planted, tree planting), of Te Moremau (to ensure the roots are embedded in the earth) and of Te Moretaketake (the tree stands firm and is firmly planted).
Not emerging in the time of Te Mākū (wet season), the posts of Tawhiti (child of Ranginui and meaning in the distance) the posts of thy ancestors appearing small (Torikiriki is another child of Ranginui and can refer to being in the distant and faint) and made to fly to Te Po-rangahau and to Poutū outside and to Poutū inside and to Pou hakohako (to dig in).
Ao Tūroa. Ao Mārama (names of god-like beings and the natural world and the physical world).
The natural world and the physical world have perhaps been severed, oh son.
Broken off perhaps, oh son, the great tide pausing to shine the eyes of the sky fixed up there to fasten tight.

Additional Notes:

Huareare is the mother of the moon - the names mean the spitting of phlegm inside a person.
Moretu is to plant a tree.
Mau means it roots down.
Taketake is to be firm.
Tawhiti and Torikiriki are both children of Rangi.
Ra-tu-waru denotes the heat of the sun for 8 months in the year.
Hereti and Hereta means fastened tight.

Traditional