HE WAKA EKE NOA
Words by: Janicka Tei (She/her - Kūki Āirani)
A long time ago, our tūpuna set out on a wondrous journey. They sailed in their waka in search of a new home. Guided by the whetū and pari o te moana in hopes of reaching their destination. The buzziest part about their journey is that each waka left at different times took different paths, and even went at different paces. Yet, they all ended up at the same destination. The story of our tūpuna's voyages can be seen as a mirror of how life can be. We all move at different paces and have other talents and journeys, whether that’s our journey with Te Reo, our studies, or just life in general, we are each on our own paths but are heading in the same direction.
It’s just like the whakataukī; he waka eke noa. We are in this waka together. There are many times in our lives when it feels like we are sailing alone at sea, fighting the current and paddling with all that we have to give but making no progress. However, the beauty of it is we are never alone. There are always people there who are also paddling. They may be in another waka, but they're helping us to move toward our goals. Even when we can’t see them, they are there, pushing us forward.
Just as the whetū guided our tūpuna, there are people around us guiding us too. Even if they aren't visible, they are there, paddling beside us, steering us in the right direction. The knowledge and stories passed down by our tūpuna light our way and show us the path forward.
But don't forget the importance of the people who journey with us in our waka. Their love and support are the wind beneath our sails. This goes beyond the guidance of our tūpuna. It's the love and support of our family and friends, the ones who have been quietly by our side, offering support and guidance even when we don’t realise it. They are in that waka, paddling twice as hard on the days we don't have the strength to paddle and steering the boat in the right direction when we lose our way. What is even more crazy is that for some, simply being on that journey with us is the destination they set out to find.
So, as we continue to voyage across the vast moana of life, hold onto the ones by your side. Paddle just as hard for them as they do for you. Keep this unity in your heart as we navigate life's waters, guided by the whetū and moved by the love and support of those who share the journey with us.
HE WAKA EKE NOA(Nā: Janicka Tei - Kūki Āirani)
I ngā rā onamata, whakatika atu ai ō tātou tūpuna ki tētahi haerenga whakahirahira. I hōea Te Moana nui a Kiwa ki te rapu kainga hou. Nā ngā whetū, me te au o te moana i ārahi i a rātou kia tutuki ngā wawata. Ko te mea mīharo katoa, ahakoa rerekē katoa te wā i wehe ai, ngā ara i whaia me te tere o te rerenga o ngā waka katoa, i te mutunga iho, i tau ki te wāhi ōrite. E tāea ana te whakataurite i tēnei hāerenga o ō tātou tīpuna, ki tō tātou āo o nāianei. He rerekē katoa te āhua o tō tātou takahi i te whenua, ō tātou pūmanawa me ō tātou whainga i te ao nei. Ka tauritea ki ngā whainga mō te reo, ngā tohu whare wānanga, aha atu, aha atu, he rerekē tō tātou hīkoi i te ao, heoi ko te ahunga, he orite.
Kia tikina te whakatauki; he waka eke noa. Tapatahi ana tātou i tēnei waka.
Tērā ngā wā, ka rāngona te mokemoke me ngā aupēhitanga, me he au moana e tō atu ana i a koe. Ka whawhai tonu koe kia neke whakamua, heoi auare ake. Heoi anō, ko te kura huna, tē noho mokemoke, he kai hoe anō kei reira i te āo i te pō. Ahakoa kei waka kē pea ētahi, ko tātou katoa e hāpai ana i a tātou kia ū ai ki uta. Ahakoa kāore e kitea, kei reira, e āki ana.
Kei reira hoki he hunga e arahi ana i a tātou, pērā i tā ngā whetu arahi i ō tātou tūpuna. Ahakoa kāore pea e kitea, kei reira rātou, e hoe ana i te waka, e hāpai ana i te waka. Ko te mātauranga me ngā kōrero tuku iho ā ō tātou tūpuna āno hoki e whakamuramura ana i te ara whakamua mō tātou.
Engari kei wareware i ngā kaihoe o tō waka. Ko tō rātou aroha me tō rātou tautoko te hau e pupuhi ana i ngā rā o tō waka kia kōkiri whakamua. Ko te aroha me te tautoko tērā a ō tātou whānau me ō tātou hoa. Ngā mea e hāpai, e arahi ana i ā tātou, ahakoa pea tō tātou kuare. Kei roto rātou i tō waka. Ko rātou ka hiki i te hoe i te wā o te ngoi kore. Ko rātou e urungi ana i te waka i te wā o te kōtiti. Mō ētehi, ko te eke i te waka anake te whainga, ka mātua i tēna.
Nō reira, i a tātou e hoe ana i moana o te ora, kia ita te mau ki ērā i tō taha. Utua te aroha ki te aroha. I a koe e whakatere ana i ngā wai karekare o te ao, kia mau ki te kotahitanga, arahina e ngā whetū, kawea i te au o te aroha o tō hapai-ō.