The fish, the fish of Waitotara,
The fish, the fish of Taranaki—
The drawing of the fish
Towards these depths, towards this beach,
The fish drawn towards this ledge of rock,
The fish drawn towards this sacred smoke,
Towards the smoke of the wood-fire of Tane,
Towards the sacred current of Tangaroa—
The fish is drawn along,
The fish caught fast on the line!
This is the fish that has been killed,
The fish from the depths,
The fish from the beach,
The fish from the depths of the sea—
This is the fish caught at the front of the canoe,
Caught at the sides of the canoe,
Taken to the landing-place,
Taken to the village,
Taken to the most sacred smoke of Tane,
By the most sacred current of Tangaroa!