E Minaka Ana

Loki Fleck — March 17th, 2025

E minaka ana is a waiata-a-ringa (action song) that talks about the endurance and mana of te reo māori.

E minaka ana has been a local favourite for many years, but as like most waiata from southland, can get particularly repetitive come polyfest!

We have attached a translation below.

Kia kaha tātou
ki te (HI!) kōrero Māori!

E minaka ana taku waha
ki te kai a te rangatira,
Taku reo rangatira,
taku kuru pounamu tuku iho

Mīharo kē ana
ki tōna pakari kia ora
Tē memeha, te wairua
ki te kōrero Māori

Kia kaha tātou
ki te (HI!) kōrero Māori!
Hi aue Hi!!

Let us be staunch
in speaking Maori!

I desire that
my talk be like that of a leader,
my noble language
my precious inheritance.

Astound me
with your maturity by
the evanescence, the spirit you show
when speaking Maori.

Let us be staunch
in speaking Maori!