We do remember: Aotearoa, Maranga Ake Ai (Songs of Resistance)
(A poem, inspired by two bands and their songs of resistance: Nessian Mystic and Aotearoa)
“Here's an insight to a time…
Connections pierced of the past into the land
Wounded links between those gone
And who now stands
We do remember[1]
We do remember, Hone Heke (1844)
We do remember, Parihaka (1881)
We do remember, Not one more acre (1970)
We do remember, Dawn Raids (1974)
We do remember, Bastion Point (1977)
We do remember, Spring Box Tour (1981)
We do remember, “Kia ora, tolls here.” (1984)
We do remember, Rainbow Warrior (1985)
We do remember, Moutoa Gardens (1995)
We do remember, Foreshore and Seabed (2004)
We do remember, Urewera (2007)
We do remember, Ihumatao (2016)
We do remember, ‘Not one more mokopuna’ (2020)
We do remember, TOITU TE WHENUA (2023)
There’s a movement, a movement on the street
Can you feel it coming, a brand new time?
I said-
Aotearoa, Maranga ake ai.[2]
The waves of resistance will not die down
Kua tawhiti kē tō haerenga mai kia kore e haere tonu.
He nui rawa ō mahi kia kore e mahi tonu. [3]
We have come too far not to go further,
we have done too much not to do more.
Our tupuna fought for us, their mokopuna.
So we, could be here today, right now
To sing, to haka, to speak, to show
Our songs of resistance:
We do remember, “Toitu te Tiriti”
Aotearoa, Maranga Ake Ai.
[1] Lyrics from the song ‘Lost Visionz’ (2002) by Nesian Mystik in their album “Polysaturated”
[2] Lyrics from the song ‘Maranga Ake Ai ‘(1985) by Aotearoa. Maranga ake ai – refers to rise up. It is our version of ‘Get up, stand up for your rights” if you like.
[3] Whakatauki- proverb by Ta Hemi Hēnare (Sir James Hēnare)
Ake ake ake!!!!