Multiple karakia (prayer) to open & close meetings and karakia kai. Maori with English translations
Channel: Tanisha Jowsey
Date: 29/11/2021

Here I present five karakia for opening a meeting and two karakia for closing a meeting and one karakia kai for prayer before eating. https://www.youtube.com/@UCR7Y2nFgmpnfooFSdb3FMkQ   According to Maori tradition, formal hui (meetings) are opened with one karakia and closed with one karakia. 

I am not an authority on karakia, nor am I Maori. Despite this, I have made this film with a hope to be helpful to those seeking to incorporate karakia into daily kiwi practices. 

Text of one karakia to open a meeting:
Karakia to open a meeting
E te hui 
For this gathering
Whāia te mātauranga kia mārama 
Seek knowledge for understanding
Kia whai take ngā mahi katoa 
Have purpose in all that you do
Tū maia, tū kaha 
Stand tall, be strong
Aroha atu, aroha mai 
Let us show respect
Tātou i a tātou katoa 
For each other

Karakia whakamutunga - to close a meeting
Kua mutu a matou mahi
Our work has finished
Mō tēnei wā
For the moment
Manaakitia mai mātou katoa
Bless us all
O mātou hoa
Our colleagues/friends
O mātou whanau
Our family
Āio ki te Aorangi
Peace to the universe

I am tau iwi/pakeha/kiwi (non-Maori). I use karakia in my workplace to open and close meetings and I use the karakia kai when on marae or in formal settings prior to eating. My children use different karakia kai at their early childhood centre and school. I present a short one I like and practice it through twice because I stumbled on a word the first time around. 

Apologies for any mispronunciation. I've done my best with the skills I have in the hopes to help people. Nga mihi.
www.tanishajowsey.com