Hoki Mai

By
Henare Waitoa composed this song in Ruatoria in 1946 to welcome home survivors of the 28th Maori Battalion.

KUPU MĀORI

Hoki mai e tama mā ki roto, ki roto
I ngā ringa e tuwhera atu nei,
(A hi! aue! aue!)

Kei te kapakapa mai te Haki, te Haki
Ingarangi runga Tiamana e.
Hoki mai, hoki mai ki te wā kāinga
Kia tutuki te tūmanako,
Kei te kapakapa mai te Haki, te Haki
Ingarangi runga Tiamana e.
I hoki mai, hoki mai ki te wā kāinga (Ki te aha?)
Kia tutuki te tumanako,
A kei te kapakapa mai te Haki, te Haki
Ingarangi runga Tiamana e,
Tahi, rua, toru, whā, hi aue hei!

TRANSLATION

Come back boys into, into
these arms outstretched.
(A hi! aue! aue!)
Fluttering is the flag, the flag
England over Germany.
Come back, come back home
In order to fulfil our hopes.
Fluttering is the flag, the flag
England over Germany.
You came back, came back home
(What for?)
In order to fulfil our hopes.
Fluttering is the flag, the flag
England over Germany.
One, two, three, four, hi aue hei!