Hoki Mai

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Henare Waitoa composed this song in Ruatoria in 1946 to welcome home survivors of the 28th Maori Battalion. 
Later, a happier, more lyrical party version evolved in Rotorua and popularized by the Howard Morrison Quartet

 

These are the "Happy" lyrics of the original song and it's translation

 

 

 

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!

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!