Now that Aotearoa New Zealand has lifted our COVID-19 restrictions after getting rid of the virus on our shores, other than keeping our border closed, I Tweeted:
Last time I felt this much part of a national team was when celebrities sang ‘Sailing Away’ to the tune of ‘Pokarekare Ana’. #COVID19
— Jack Yan 甄爵恩 (@jackyan) June 9, 2020
and between Cachalot on Twitter and I, we actually wound up with a variation of the song (incidentally, he was first with the chorus, showing that great minds think alike).
Here we come, we’re isolating
Here we come, we’re on our way
In a team that’s called New Zealand
We’re together, that’s our way.— Jack Yan 甄爵恩 (@jackyan) June 9, 2020
Covid away
Covid away
New Zealand can do it
Covid away— ℂ (@happyfishmedia) June 8, 2020
On islands on the water,
One people with one heart,
All the people, all together,
Kiwis working two metres apart.— Jack Yan 甄爵恩 (@jackyan) June 9, 2020
Then back to the refrain.
Out of respect to the language in which the song was composed, te reo Māori, here are the original, poignant lyrics. It’s a beautiful, heart-wrenching song. There’s a further explanation to it here.
Pōkarekare ana,
ngā wai o Waiapu
Whiti atu koe hine,
marino ana e.
Refrain
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.
Refrain
Whati whati taku pene
ka pau aku pepa
Ko taku aroha
mau tonu ana e.
Refrain
E kore te aroha
e maroke i te rā
Mākūkū tonu i
aku roimata e.
Refrain
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