Invocation

This Moriori karakii asks that the child prosper and tread the land of Rēkohu carefully. It charts the origins of our people, and records our descent from gods and early ancestors – many of them also known to Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Kā one

Tchi one nō Uru, nō Ngana, nō Iorangi e-rā ia,
Kei tongia tchi one, tongia tchi one e, tareae-i-ae,
Whati ta rangi, whati ta rangi, tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.

Nō Tū, nō Tāne, nō Rongo, nō Tangaroa, e-rā ia.
Kei tongia tchi one, tongia tchi one e, tareae-i-ae,
Whati ta rangi, whati ta rangi, tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.

Nō Tahu, nō Moko, nō Maroro, nō Wakehau, e-rā ia.
Kei tongia tchi one, tongia tchi one e, tareae-i-ae,
Whati ta rangi, whati ta rangi, tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.

Nō Ruanuku, nō Taputapu, nō Rākeiora, e-rā ia.
Kei tongia tchi one, tongia tchi one e, tareae-i-ae,
Whati ta rangi, whati ta rangi, tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.

E puke, e puta wai, ta ihi, ta mana, tch’ hā, t’ hokoariki.
Kei tongia tchi one, tongia tchi one e, tareae-i-ae,
Whati ta rangi, whati ta rangi, tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.

Nō Rongomai-whiti, nō Rongomai-rau, nō Rongomai-ta-uiho-o-te-rangi.
Nō t’ hokoariki, ko rō Tauira tchi one,
Whati ta rangi tū tātau tareae-i-ae, tū tātau tarea.

E puke wai, e puta wai, ta ihi, ta mana, tch’ hā, t’ hokoariki rā-i.
Kei tongia tchi one tareae-i-ae, whati ta rangi tū tātau tareae-i-ae.
Whati ta rangi tū tātau tarea-no.

Basalt columns on Rēkohu, 2019. Photo by Jane Harris

Our land, our people

As Moriori, we are tchakat henu, people of the land. We are the original inhabitants of the remote islands of Rēkohu, also known as the Chatham Islands.

We are a distinct people with our own culture. Our founding ancestor, Rongomaiwhenua, arrived on Rēkohu directly from the eastern Pacific. His people settled the islands many generations before the next migrants arrived on the pāhīhī Rangimata, Rangihoua, and later, Ōropuke.

After Rongomaiwhenua migrated here, we had contact with a place called Aote or Aotea – probably Aotearoa New Zealand.

Choosing peace

The renowned leader Nunuku-Whenua spoke these words on Rēkohu many generations ago. He renewed the covenant of peace laid down by our ancestors Rongomaiwhenua, Mū, Weke, and Pakehau. Our people have stood by this promise throughout the centuries.

Our ancestors numbered about 2,500 when European sealers and whalers arrived in the early 1800s. Peace was preserved, but we suffered greatly from loss of resources.

In 1835, two Māori tribes (Ngāti Mutunga and Ngāti Tama) used an English sailing ship to invade Rēkohu. Our young men suggested we fight back, but our elders stood by our covenant and refused to fight. We upheld our promise, and we kept our integrity as the manawa of Rēkohu. Around 300 Moriori were killed, and the rest enslaved.

By 1862, only 101 of us remained.

Moriori stand proud

Today, about 8,000 people are of Moriori descent. Since the 1980s, we’ve worked on rebuilding and revitalising our culture. Our long-standing commitment to peace is a source of great pride.

Our resilience and determination have helped us reclaim our rightful place in the history of Rēkohu and Aotearoa New Zealand. In 2020, we reached an historic Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the Crown. This process of reconciliation included an acknowledgement and apology for past injustices. We continue to move forward in peace.

This text has been written for the exhibition by the community.