He poroporoaki ki a Tākuta Apirana Tuahae Kaukapakapa Mahuika
Ka tanuku, e! Ka tanuku, e!
Ka tanuku koa te tihi o Hikurangi-kore-nekeneke, ka tanuku!
Kāore nei ia te tohu o te mate, i ā-haha!
Kua horo te tihi tapu ki te riu o Waiapu,
e pari rā te tai ki te wahapū, ki tua!
Ki tawhiti nui, ki te ara i takahia ai e te tini, e te mano!
E rere rā kai taku manu tātāriki ki te tāpuhipuhi o
te taumata okiokinga o ō mātua tīpuna,
Ki reira titiro whakararo mai ai ki ō ākau o
Te Tairāwhiti e mau nei i te parekawakawa o aituā,
He tangi apakura mōu kua riro nei i te hao nui a Hine-nui-te-pō.
Kua pāorooro tō reo ki ngā tihi whakarongo kōrero, ki ngā wai tuku kiri,
ki ngā papa nekenekehanga puta noa i te motu,
Hai te kaiwhakakake i te mana motuhake o Ngāti Porou,
Te kaiwhakapiki i te rangatiratanga o te reo me ōna tikanga,
Te kaiwhakakaurera i te hāhi Mihingare,
Te mana tiketike o Te Tairāwhiti,
E moe ō karu, e rewa tō wairua ki a kauheke mā,
Hoki atu rā ki ngā tipua, ki ngā wānanga,
ki ngā pūihoiho, ki ngā taniwha hikuroa.
E Api, ka waiho ko ō mahi huhua hai whakamaumahara ki a koe haere nei ngā tau.
Kua tomo rā koe ki te whare tūmatetenga o aituā, te moenga o ngā tipua.
Moe mai rā, e Koro e.
Nā tō rahi o Ngāti Kahungunu whānui tonu.
Dr. Apirana Mahuika (Api) was one of the most influential and iconic Māori leaders of recent times and his loss will be
felt throughout the nation. Api will long be remembered for his unwaivering commitment to his people, Ngāti Porou. His
staunch passion for maintaining the mana motuhake of Ngāti Porou in all aspects was admired throughout New Zealand. Api
was one of the longest serving iwi leaders and Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc. wishes to extend our deepest sympathies to his
wife and whānau as they mourn his loss today.