Aotearoa - our National song.

Sort of been mulling over this for about ten years and was prompted by the AB's singing the "National Anthem" tonight and sad to say our National song is out of date and contains material that many have no association with.  And it is too long!!  Should be like the Aussies and the brevity of Advance Australia Fair (my version here takes just over  90 seconds with both versions).  And as a rabid Republican I want to see the "anthem" changed to a more apt one, to have the new flag (attached) and our own Head of State.

This version I wrote while watching the rugby is short and sweet and topical (for now).  I need someone to help with the Te Reo translation as my Google Translation might be not quite 100% and is too lengthy compared the Pakeha  lyrics (which puts both lyrics out of kilter).

Aotearoa – National Song. (By Thane Zander Sep 22nd 2019)

Beneath our Southern Cross we stand,

All Glorious in our Native Land,

Together as a cherished Band,

Ao – tea- roa

All our islands are good and great,

Where everybody is a mate,

And where Love and Hope – contemplate

Ao-tea-roa

And when that Sun sets down at night,

We marvel at our awesome might,

The World as One will Unite

Ao – tea- roa

Kei raro o to maatau Rawhiti

Katoa i runga i to matou Whenua Maori

Kia rite ki te Pihi e manakohia ana,

Ao – tea- roa

He pai, he pai hoki o tatou motu katoa,

Te wahi he hoa rangatira nga taangata katoa.

A ko hea te aroha me te tumanako - whakaaroaro

Ao-tea-roa

Ā, ka tō ake te rā ki te pō,

Maere i to maatau kaha whakaharahara,

Ko te Ao hei Tahi ka whakakotahi

Ao-tea-roa.

Click here for my (very bad) singing. I will leave Te Reo Maori for the experts, in both translation and Waiata.