Maori Hymn to the Creator

By Henry M. Stowell (Hare Hongi)
of Hawera, Tarnaki, New Zealand

Lord! whom our wandering fathers bore
From sea to sea, from shore to shore
And sacred mana gave.
When far upon the trackless main
They cried to Thee – nor vain
Thou didst their wearying hearts sustain:

Oh, Rangi! Rongo! Tane! Tu!
Be with us still, however few.

Be with us, Lord, nor set at naught
The precepts our forefathers taught
As our inheritance;
Thy deeds recited oft and sung
In ancient, home and mother tongue
Ere seeds of bitterness had sprung:

Oh, Rangi! Rongo! Tane! Tu!
Be with us still, however few.

Thy many titles, Lord, are found
Above, beneath, and all around.
Oh Rangi! “Heavenly one,”
Thy name of Rongo! “Prince of Peace,”
Tane! who lifts the worlds with ease,
Tu! where dread vengeance set her crease;

Yea, Rangi! Rongo! Tane! Tu!
Be with us still, however few.

Lord of the nations, ’twas to Thee
Our fathers earthed the Sacred Tree
The ever blessed Toi;
In Thee our tribes were blessed of old,
Thy boundless greatness e’er extolled;
This remnant pitying, Lord, behold:

Oh, Rangi! Rongo! Tane Tu!
Be with us still, however few.

Shrine of the Kura, treasure rare
The seal of truth in earth and air
From Hawaiki’s fount.
Lord of the city, camp and plain!
Lord of the mighty! guard, maintain;
Hear us: The flax fast smokes amain.

Oh, Rangi! Rongo! Tane! Tu!
Be with us still, however few.

Lord, teach us still to watch and pray
For that blest time, when owned Thy sway
In all the toiling earth;
From Hawaiki’s old estate
Oh, may Thy wisdom penetrate
Throughout our Councils, small and great:

Oh, Rangi! Rongo! Tane! Tu!
Be with us still, however few.

Our twilight burdens: Lord of Day –
Pierce with a shaft of brightest ray,
Shine in our aching hearts;
Support us with Thy guiding hand,
Teach us to know and understand
Thy power and wisdom, wrought and planned:

Oh, Rangi! Rongo! Tane! Tu!
Be with us still, however few.

Lord take our struggling spirits hence
And Lay not up our soul’s offence
For future punishment:
But from Thy mansion in the skies
Oh, hear us swift as lightening flies,
To share Thy home in Paradise.

Oh, Rangi! Rongo! Tane! Tu!
Be with us still, however few.

Lord when our circle is complete,
Be Thou our centre of retreat,
Its pillar and its base –
Even as our spirits sink to earth,
Oh, grant the soul its bright re-birth
To blend I pureness with Thy worth:

Oh, Rangi! Rongo! Tane! Tu!
Be with us still, however, few.

(1909)