Kupu:

Whaia i te ara, whaia i te pono whaia i te ora, e tē

(Seek the way, seek the truth, seek the life, young lad)

Kia ū kia itā ki tō Kaihanga, te orangatonutanga

(Be firm, hold fast to your Creator, the Eternal One)

I roto i ngā wā hari me ngā wā wero hoki

(In both the joyful times and challenging times)

Whaia te iti kahurangi ki te tuohu koe me he maunga teitei, te iti kahurangi ki te tuohu koe me he maunga teitei

(Seek the treasure that you value most dearly, if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain, the treasure that you value most dearly, if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain)

Whāia te iti kahurangi…

(Seek the treasure that you value)

Whakamārama / Explanation:

In 2024 during the second trimester of my pregnancy I was deeply inspired to write a waiata for my son to be born. Tzevaot Nga-Waiata-a-Rawiri Ahonui Boyles was born on the 4th of July, one year after his brother Elshaddai passed away in my womb in the 4th month of my pregnancy in 2023.

Kahurangi was inspired by a Māori proverb and two Bible verses. The proverb is: “Whaia te iti kahurangi ki te tuohu koe me he maunga teitei”. The bible verses that inspired this waiata are as follows: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these will be added to you” (Mathew 6:33).

Waiata oriori empower both tamaiti and parents. It empowers the whānau as a whole.

The process of writing and singing this has been a blessing. In this recording I have bell palsy, so found it very difficult to sing this, so thank you for bearing with me. Ngā mihi hūmarie

© Kahutāiki Stirling-Boyles