Invocation
This Moriori karakii karakiiinvocationMoriori asks that the child prosper and tread the land of Rēkohu carefully. It charts the origins of our people, and records our descent from gods and early ancestors – many of them also known to Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Kā one
Tchi one nō Uru, nō Ngana, nō Iorangi e-rā ia,
Kei tongia tchi one, tongia tchi one e, tareae-i-ae,
Whati ta rangi, whati ta rangi, tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.
Nō Tū, nō Tāne, nō Rongo, nō Tangaroa, e-rā ia.
Kei tongia tchi one, tongia tchi one e, tareae-i-ae,
Whati ta rangi, whati ta rangi, tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.
Nō Tahu, nō Moko, nō Maroro, nō Wakehau, e-rā ia.
Kei tongia tchi one, tongia tchi one e, tareae-i-ae,
Whati ta rangi, whati ta rangi, tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.
Nō Ruanuku, nō Taputapu, nō Rākeiora, e-rā ia.
Kei tongia tchi one, tongia tchi one e, tareae-i-ae,
Whati ta rangi, whati ta rangi, tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.
E puke, e puta wai, ta ihi, ta mana, tch’ hā, t’ hokoariki.
Kei tongia tchi one, tongia tchi one e, tareae-i-ae,
Whati ta rangi, whati ta rangi, tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.
Nō Rongomai-whiti, nō Rongomai-rau, nō Rongomai-ta-uiho-o-te-rangi.
Nō t’ hokoariki, ko rō Tauira tchi one,
Whati ta rangi tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.
E puke wai, e puta wai, ta ihi, ta mana, tch’ hā, t’ hokoariki rā-i.
Kei tongia tchi one tareae-i-ae, whati ta rangi tū tātau tareae-i-ae.
Whati ta rangi tū tātau tarea-no.
Caption
Basalt columns on Rēkohu, 2019. Photo by Jane Harris
Our land, our people
As Moriori, we are tchakat henu, people of the land. We are the original inhabitants of the remote islands of Rēkohu, also known as the Chatham Islands.
We are a distinct people with our own culture. Our founding ancestor, Rongomaiwhenua, arrived on Rēkohu directly from the eastern Pacific. His people settled the islands many generations before the next migrants arrived on the pāhīhī pāhīhīdouble-hulled sailing canoesMoriori Rangimata, Rangihoua, and later, Ōropuke.
After Rongomaiwhenua migrated here, we had contact with a place called Aote or Aotea – probably Aotearoa New Zealand.
Choosing peace
“Never again let there be war as there has been this day. Do not kill.”
– Nunuku-Whenua, Moriori leader
The renowned leader Nunuku-Whenua spoke these words on Rēkohu many generations ago. He renewed the covenant of peace laid down by our ancestors Rongomaiwhenua, Mū, Weke, and Pakehau. Our people have stood by this promise throughout the centuries.
Our ancestors numbered about 2,500 when European sealers and whalers arrived in the early 1800s. Peace was preserved, but we suffered greatly from loss of resources.
In 1835, two Māori tribes (Ngāti Mutunga and Ngāti Tama) used an English sailing ship to invade Rēkohu. Our young men suggested we fight back, but our elders stood by our covenant and refused to fight. We upheld our promise, and we kept our integrity as the manawa manawaheartMoriori of Rēkohu. Around 300 Moriori were killed, and the rest enslaved.
By 1862, only 101 of us remained.
Moriori stand proud
Today, about 8,000 people are of Moriori descent. Since the 1980s, we’ve worked on rebuilding and revitalising our culture. Our long-standing commitment to peace is a source of great pride.
Our resilience and determination have helped us reclaim our rightful place in the history of Rēkohu and Aotearoa New Zealand. In 2020, we reached an historic Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the Crown. This process of reconciliation included an acknowledgement and apology for past injustices. We continue to move forward in peace.
– This text has been written for the exhibition by the community.
Close English textKarakii
E tohinga teneti karakii Moriori ki’ manawareka tch timiti ta mauri ora, kiatoho t’ hunatu ki rung’ kā one o t’ henu o Rēkohu. Ko ro Matangiao, ko ro Hokorong’ Tiring’, t’ hokopapa heoki nō kā etchu, nō kā karāpuna o mu’ – e me’ tomai ki ta Māori ki Aotearoa Nu Tireni.
Kā one
Tchi one nō Uru, nō Ngana, nō Iorangi e-rā ia,
Kei tongia tchi one, tongia tchi one e, tareae-i-ae,
Whati ta rangi, whati ta rangi, tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.
Nō Tū, nō Tāne, nō Rongo, nō Tangaroa, e-rā ia.
Kei tongia tchi one, tongia tchi one e, tareae-i-ae,
Whati ta rangi, whati ta rangi, tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.
Nō Tahu, nō Moko, nō Maroro, nō Wakehau, e-rā ia.
Kei tongia tchi one, tongia tchi one e, tareae-i-ae,
Whati ta rangi, whati ta rangi, tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.
Nō Ruanuku, nō Taputapu, nō Rākeiora, e-rā ia.
Kei tongia tchi one, tongia tchi one e, tareae-i-ae,
Whati ta rangi, whati ta rangi, tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.
E puke, e puta wai, ta ihi, ta mana, tch’ hā, t’ hokoariki.
Kei tongia tchi one, tongia tchi one e, tareae-i-ae,
Whati ta rangi, whati ta rangi, tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.
Nō Rongomai-whiti, nō Rongomai-rau, nō Rongomai-ta-uiho-o-te-rangi.
Nō t’ hokoariki, ko rō Tauira tchi one,
Whati ta rangi tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.
E puke wai, e puta wai, ta ihi, ta mana, tch’ hā, t’ hokoariki rā-i.
Kei tongia tchi one tareae-i-ae, whati ta rangi tū tātau tareae-i-ae.
Whati ta rangi tū tātau tarea-no.
Caption
Basalt columns on Rēkohu, 2019. Photo by Jane Harris
Tchakat henu
Ko Moriori matuu kā tchakat henu. Ko waina pono matuu o kā motchu Rēkohu, kī ai ko Tchatim Airani.
E imi mana, e imi tikane matuu. Ko matuu tipuna ko Rongomaiwhenua, k’ hēre mei nō Hhiawaiki ki Rēkohu. K’ noho ton’ imi ki kā motchu khia tau ki taeranga mai o rangata hou ku rung’ pāhīhī ko Rangimata, ko Rangihoua, murieneti i tena ko Ōropuke.
Nō Rongomaiwhenua tauenga mai murieneti i tena, k’ miti tai ki Aote’, ko Aotearoa pe’.
Hou rongo
“Ko ro patu, ko ro kei tangata me tchap’ toake.”
– Nunuku-Whenua, Tohuk’
Ko Nunuku-Whenua kī ai aii eneti tukupa i Rēkohu khia hokotupuranga nō mu’. E tchakat hou rongo aii, k’ pouā e matuu karāpuna, ko Rongomaiwhenua, ko Mū, ko Weke, ko Pakehau. Khia rau tau k’ mau ko matuu ta imi teneti kupu.
Nō kā tau 1800 ko re kau o Paorangi taenga mai ki’ patu puhina, ki’ patu rongomoana, 2,500 ko matuu karāpuna. E hou rongo, eringi k’ mate kā keinga, k’ mate matuu.
Nō ta tau 1835, tokoteru kā imi Māori, ko Ngāti Mutunga, ko Ngāti Tama k’ hēre mei ku rung’ waka Pakehā ki’ rangataua ko Rēkohu. K’ me’ kā rūtapa ki’ rangataua etu heoki matuu, eringi ko kā rangata matua k’ me’ me rongo, tchiei hokoiana ta rangataua. Kamau ton’ matuu tchia kupu, kamau ton’ t’ hokotuiho o ta manawa o Rēkohu. Tata ani 300 kā tchakat Moriori k’ patū, k’ herea.
Nō 1862, ko matuu toenga 101 enak’.
Ko Moriori tūao
Inginei, tata ani 8,000 kā rangata Moriori. Nō kā tau 1980, k’ mahi matuu ki’ hana, ki’ ioranga ko matuu tikane. Ora e neti ta mau ki ta rongo, e tūao ta mana.
Ko matuu hikoa, ko matuu tirikao k’ tūao matuu ki t’ hitori o Rēkohu me Aotearoa Nu Tireni. Nō ta tau 2020, tau muai te hua ko Tiriti o Waiteki i tch Karauna. Teneti tikane hou rongo e hokomāri kaoro te ngākau, e me’ hokomihi, e me’ manapā heoki mo kā kau nō mu’. K’ hunatu ton’ matuu me rongo.
Close te reo Māori text