They are also a key component of whaikōrero in that, traditionally, traditionally, waiata followed each speech made by a kaikōrero on Marae and at other Māori functions and settings. The same practice is followed today.The waiata add to, or complement, what the speaker has said.
‘Tēnei te Kura’ is a Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō mōteatea that has been revised and is now widely used amongst our iwi.
It was composed by Mohi Te Ua and speaks of the strong connection he had with his ancestral lands. He mentions a number of Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō wāhi tapu, including some areas south of the now recognised Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō boundaries. This strongly indicates that Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō may have had traditional connections with these wāhi tapu as well.
He waiata na tetahi Rangatira o Ngāti Apa
Ko Mohi Te Ua tona ingoa, i a ia e noho ana ki Waikanae
Tēnei te Kura
Te Kuranui
Te Kuraroa
Te Kurawhanui
Nō te Atea
Nō te moana i kauria
A Te Popoto ki Karamea
Ka noho hei pito whenua
Mai Motu Tarakaipa
Ki te Arahura
Ki Piopiotahi
Ka heke iho ko au
Aue e i e…
This is the token
the great token
the long token
the great spread out token
from the Universe
from the distant seas travelled
of Te Popoto at Karamea
who dwelt there as an umbilical cord
from Tarakaipa Island
to the Arahura
to Piopiotahi
and descending to me
alas, e i e