Tīhei mauri ora / There is life.
- Line from Whakataka te hau ki te uru
Whakataka te Hau is a traditional Māori opening karakia often used at the beginning of meetings, lessons, hui and shared gatherings. It is a short karakia timatanga that helps settle the space, focus attention and mark the beginning of the kaupapa.²
Key Takeaways
- Whakataka te Hau is a traditional opening karakia
Whakataka te Hau is widely used as a karakia timatanga, helping open meetings, lessons, hui and other shared gatherings with focus and respect.² - The karakia moves through wind, cold and dawn
Its imagery begins with winds to the west and south before moving into cold, frost, the red-tipped dawn and renewed life.⁴ - Translations should be treated as guides, not replacements
English meanings can help learners understand the karakia, but they cannot always capture the full depth of Māori words and cultural ideas.⁴ - Pronunciation is part of respectful learning
Learners should practise vowel sounds, macrons and rhythm carefully before leading Whakataka te Hau aloud.⁶ - Context matters when using karakia
Whakataka te Hau should be used thoughtfully, with attention to the kaupapa, the setting and local tikanga.⁸
The Significance of Karakia in Māori Culture
Karakia is central to te ao Māori. Karakia are ritual chants, incantations, prayers and forms of recitation.³ They're used for important transitions, helping people move into a more focused, respectful or spiritually aware space before an activity begins.⁸ Nowadays, you may hear them in schools, workplaces, hui, community events and learning environments, where they continue to connect language, tikanga and shared purpose.⁴
Whakataka te Hau is a traditional Māori karakia often used to open a meeting, class, hui or shared activity. Te Puni Kōkiri lists it as a karakia timatanga, which makes it a useful example of an opening karakia for learners.² Its imagery moves through wind, cold, dawn and renewed life, giving the karakia a strong sense of preparation before a kaupapa begins.
Whakataka te Hau: A Traditional Opening Karakia
Before you go through Whakataka te Hau, consider the movement. Many karakia, including karakia whakamutunga, punctuate events and occasions, respecting the ideas of completion, acknowledgement, and transition. The word whakataka can carry meanings such as preparing, making ready or causing something to move aside, which fits the karakia’s sense of clearing and settling before the kaupapa begins.¹⁰ The opening has a sense of change, with space being cleared before the kaupapa begins.⁴
winds, the wind to the west and the wind to the south, before moving into images of cold, frost, dawn and renewed life.⁴
Learners might want to read the Māori text alongside a simple English translation to follow the movement of west and south winds toward the red-tipped dawn. Side-by-side views of translations help guide understanding without diminishing the depth of the original kupu.⁴ Obviously, learners will start learning karakia natively once their language skills are good enough, without too much need for translations.
Māori text
Whakataka te hau ki te uru
Whakataka te hau ki te tonga
Kia mākinakina ki uta
Kia mātaratara ki tai
E hī ake ana te atākura
He tio, he huka, he hauhū
Tīhei mauri ora
English meaning
The winds settle in the west.
The winds settle in the south.
Let it be cold and sharp inland.
Let it be cold and sharp at sea.
The red-tipped dawn begins to rise.
There is ice, snow and frost.
There is life.
Whakataka te Hau is brief, which is why many learners may see it early on in their language-learning journey. It's easier to practise, but remember to recite it carefully and respect its meaning. It's a traditional karakia for opening a meeting, which is why it's a useful example for learners building confidence.⁴
short lines, making it an accessible short opening karakia for learners to practise carefully.⁴
Origins and Historical Context
Karakia are often passed down through generations through use, teaching, performance, and local practice rather than through a single fixed written origin story. There's a shared background that connects the karakia to storms, waka voyaging, and the settling of difficult conditions, which helps explain why its imagery begins with wind and weather.⁷ However, remember that these are living and evolving practices.
Different sources may translate Whakataka te Hau in slightly different ways because karakia often use poetic language, metaphor and cultural ideas that do not always fit neatly into English. The University of Otago notes that English cannot always fully capture the essence of Māori words, which is why meaning and context matter as much as direct translation.⁴ When using this karakia, it is better to learn one trusted version carefully than to treat every English version as a perfect word-for-word equivalent.
Modern Usage and Adaptations
Whakataka te Hau is commonly used to open a hui or meeting, helping participants pause, settle, and focus on the kaupapa before discussion begins.⁴
Teachers and learners may use it as a short opening karakia at the start of a lesson, especially when the aim is to begin learning with attention and respect.²
Te Puni Kōkiri presents Whakataka te Hau as a karakia timatanga, making it a practical example for workplaces that include te reo Māori and tikanga in shared routines.²
The karakia can also be used at the start of an online meeting when the group wants a clear beginning, a shared focus and a respectful transition into the session.⁴
Te Hou Ora Whānau Services frames Whakataka te Hau as useful for opening a space, closing challenging kōrero or returning attention to the kaupapa.⁵
Because the karakia is short and widely used, it can support learners at the beginning of shared study, wānanga or pronunciation practice.⁶
How to Incorporate Whakataka te Hau in Your Gatherings
Before reciting Whakataka te Hau in a group setting, familiarise yourself with it. Pronunciation is more about technical accuracy; you should show care for te reo Māori and the people listening. Trusted audio sources, slow practice, and guidance from fluent speakers are all recommended.⁵
Pronunciation and Recitation
Start by hearing the karakia spoken aloud so you can follow the rhythm, pauses and natural flow before reciting it yourself.⁵
Te reo Māori vowel sounds are consistent, so slow repetition can help learners avoid rushing or flattening the words.⁶
Macrons indicate long vowels and can affect meaning, rhythm, and pronunciation, so keep them visible when practising from written text.⁶
Practise one or two lines at a time before joining the full karakia together, especially if you are new to te reo Māori pronunciation.⁶
A kaiako, tutor or fluent speaker can help you correct pronunciation before you use the karakia in a group setting.⁶
Whakataka te Hau is not a performance piece, so focus on clarity, respect and shared attention rather than speed or volume.⁴
Contexts for Use
Whakataka te Hau is generally used as a karakia timatanga, so it is best suited to beginnings rather than endings.²
Choose it when the gathering needs a calm, focused opening rather than using it automatically for every situation.
In a marae, iwi, hapū, school or workplace context, follow the karakia or tikanga already preferred by that community.
If not everyone knows the words, display the kupu clearly and explain briefly why this karakia has been chosen.
A karakia should support the purpose of the gathering, not be added only to make an event appear culturally inclusive.
When the setting is formal, sensitive or culturally specific, check with a kaiako, kaumātua, fluent speaker or local Māori advisor before leading it.
| Setting | Why it fits | Respectful practice tip |
|---|---|---|
| Class or lesson | It helps mark the start of shared learning. | Practise the pronunciation before leading it aloud. |
| Workplace meeting | It can settle the group before the kaupapa begins. | Explain why this karakia has been chosen. |
| Hui | It can open a formal or semi-formal gathering. | Follow local tikanga where possible. |
| Wānanga | It suits focused learning, reflection and shared discussion. | Ask a kaiako or fluent speaker for guidance. |
| Community event | It can bring attention to shared purpose. | Avoid using it as a decorative add-on. |
| Online meeting | It can create a clear beginning even when people are remote. | Display the kupu clearly for participants. |
| Shared study | It helps learners pause, focus and begin together. | Learn the meaning, not just the sounds. |
Respecting Māori Traditions When Using Karakia
Karakia, including karakia kai, is part of the wider Māori world of tikanga, ritual practice, and relationships among people, place, atua, and kaupapa.⁸ Karakia are ritual chants, incantations and prayers, so learners should understand that they are more than useful words for opening a meeting.³ Recognise the cultural setting first, then learn the language with patience and humility.
Learners do not need perfect fluency before beginning to learn karakia, but they should approach the words with care and respect. Pronunciation matters because vowel sounds, consonants and macrons can change how te reo Māori is heard and understood.⁶ Respectful use also means understanding the setting, accepting correction and recognising that karakia belong within te ao Māori rather than simply being a convenient meeting script.
References
- “Hau.” Te Aka Māori Dictionary, Te Murumāra Foundation, https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?keywords=hau. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
- “He Karakia.” Te Puni Kōkiri, 14 Oct. 2020, https://www.tpk.govt.nz/mo-te-puni-kokiri/karakia/he-karakia. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
- “Karakia.” Te Aka Māori Dictionary, Te Murumāra Foundation, https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?keywords=karakia. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
- “Karakia: Prayers.” Māori ki Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, University of Otago, https://www.otago.ac.nz/maori/world/te-reo-maori/karakia-prayers. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
- “Karakia: Whakataka te Hau.” Te Hou Ora Whānau Services, https://www.thows.org.nz/whakataka-te-hau. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
- “Māori Pronunciation.” University of Waikato, https://www.waikato.ac.nz/students/maori/pronunciation/. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
- “New Zealand Karakia: Whakataka te Hau.” Folksong.org.nz, https://folksong.org.nz/whakataka_te_hau/. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
- “Rituals and Ceremonies.” Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 10 Apr. 2013, https://teara.govt.nz/en/traditional-maori-religion-nga-karakia-a-te-maori/page-5. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
- “Tīhei Mauri Ora.” Te Aka Māori Dictionary, Te Murumāra Foundation, https://maoridictionary.co.nz/word/8027. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
- “Whakataka.” Te Aka Māori Dictionary, Te Murumāra Foundation, https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?keywords=whakataka. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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