Po Karekare Ana

Po karekare ana
nga wai o waiapu
witi atu ko hine
marino ana e

E hine e 

hoki mai ra. 

Ka mate ahau 

I te aroha e.

Tuhituhi taku reta 

tuku atu taku rīngi, 

Kia kite tō iwi 

raru raru ana e.

Whati whati taku pene 

ka pau aku pepa, 

Ko taku aroha 

mau tonu ana e.

E kore te aroha 

e maroke i te rā, 

Mākūkū tonu i 

aku roimata e.

English Translation

They are agitated
the waters of Waiapu,
But when you cross over girl
they will be calm.

Oh girl 

return to me, 

I could die 

of love for you.

I have written my letter 

I have sent my ring, 

so that your people can see 

that I am troubled.

My pen is shattered, 

I have no more paper 

But my love 

is still steadfast.

My love will never 

be dried by the sun, 

It will be forever moistened 

by my tears.

About the song....

The song is the New Zealand folk's song. Claimed to be the Maori's and it has been regarded the "New Zealand unofficial anthem" by some people. East Coast Maori song-writer Paraire Tomoana, who polished up the song in 1917 and published the words in 1921, wrote that "it emanated from the North of Auckland" and was popularised by Maori soldiers who were training near Auckland before embarking for the war in Europe