Get NGA RITENGA KARAKIA MO TE

Karakia are Māori incantations and prayer used to invoke spiritual guidance and protection. They are generally used to increase the spiritual goodwill of a gathering, so as to increase the likelihood of a favourable outcome, such as at a court hearing.

Leader stands and briefly introduce the kaupapa~topic and explains that the karakia will be said. Everyone stands for the karakia. If the whole rōpū~group says the karakia together, then the taina~those who are less confident are supported by the tuakana~ those who are more confident.

Karakia are used for everything - to bring comfort to kaumātua and their whānau, to petition the spiritual realm for support, guidance, and to lift fear and anxiety, to bring strength and clarity, and to assist with certain events that occur on the end of life journey.

Types of karakia Tā kopito was a karakia used for sickness. Tūā moe was a spell used by fowlers to make the tūī go to sleep. Tūā pana was a spell to help with childbirth. Hoa tapuae were a group of karakia used by warriors to increase their speed.

You can choose the karakia to fit the situation you are using it in. Some karakia are more general and others are more specific or have a theme.

When we karakia we know automatically to be respectful and quiet. Here is a karakia you can use in the workplace to open meetings with clients, customers or colleagues. Tūtawa mai i runga, Tūtawa mai i raro, Tūtawa mai i waho, Tūtawa mai i roto, Kia tau ai te mauri tū, te mauri ora ki te katoa.

The traditional karakia that is used to open and close ceremonies is not a Christian prayer, it is a ritual chant, a set form of words to state or make effective a ritual activity. Karakia are recited rapidly using traditional language, symbols and structures.