We wish you a Kiwi Christmas,
a sweet-as Kiwi Christmas,
a cracker Kiwi Christmas,
and a ka pai new year!
Little Kiwi she searched
for signs of his sleigh;
the bush was a-buzzing –
Santa’s on his merry way!
Her friends they were tucked
up warm in their nests,
that were for the season
most jauntily dressed.
Glow-worms they shone
like jewels from afar,
each pōhutukawa
blazed like a red star.
Little Kiwi she wished
that she could fly high,
up there with dear Santa
in the star-bright night sky.
But something in the night
made our Kiwi stand still,
for someone was sitting
all alone on the hill.
OH NO! Is that Santa
with a broken-down sleigh?
Don’t tell me his reindeer
have all run away!
“HELP ME!” cried Santa,
“I’ve run out of puff.
Those naughty old reindeer
have had quite enough.
If this sleigh doesn’t rise
and fly through the sky,
the stockings won’t be filled
and the children will cry!”
Then Santa he whistled
and called them by name,
but no reindeer answered,
not a single one came.
“No worries, dear Santa,”
Kiwi said in reply.
“I’ve plenty of friends
who can fly far and high.
We’ll soon have you zooming
up, up and away,
delivering your presents –
there’ll be no delay!”
Little Kiwi she woke
her friends from their sleep,
with a deep-throated call
and a high-pitched peep-peep.
“Wake up now sleek Tūī,
and sleepy Kererū …
wake up now friend Fantail,
and cheeky Kea, too.
Brave Bellbird come along,
and shy Kōkako,
you can all work together
and see how you go.”
Then in flew silent Ruru
from his night hunting spree,
and Santa called Kiwi
to sit on his knee.
Little Kiwi she bounced
in pure delight,
as the sleigh soared skywards
on that Christmas Eve night.
She looked all around
and with a soft, dreamy sigh,
said, “Who dares to say
that kiwis can’t fly.”
We wish you a Kiwi Christmas,
a sweet-as Kiwi Christmas,
a cracker Kiwi Christmas,
and a ka pai new year!
He mihi Kirihimete Kiwi,
mihi kau ana mō te Tau Hou,
mīharo, tumeke,
ka mau te wehi!
I te kimi a Kiwi
ngā tohu kōneke;
i te wheo te ngāhere -
Hana Koko ahu mai!
I te moe ōna hoa,
i o rātau kōhanga,
kōhanga ataahua
kei runga noa atu!
Tīaho titiwai
me he rei pāmamao,
ngā pōhutukawa
me he whetū o te pō.
I te hiahia a Kiwi
ki te rere rangi,
rāua ko Hana Koko
ki ngā whetū o te pō.
I titiro a Kiwi
ka ohorere,
ko wai te tangata,
i runga i te puke?
Aue! Hana Koko
kōneke pakaru?
Kei hea ra ōna tia
kua oma katoa!
Ka karanga a Hana Koko
“Kua pau taku hau.
Kua hōhā aku tia,
kua tahuti kē.”
“Ki te kore taku waka,
rere ki te rangi,
tamariki koha kore,
tangi tangi. Aue!”
Ka karanga, ka whiowhio
a Hana Koko,
ahakoa tonu tērā,
ngaro tonu atu.
“Kei te pai Hana Koko,”
te kī a Kiwi.
“He nui aku hoa,
kaha ki te rere.”
“Ākuni koe ka tere,
rere runga rawa,
ki te hari i o koha -
me tere haere!”
Ka haruru te reo
tīkā te karanga,
rongo ana ngā hoa,
oho mai ana e!
“Maranga mai ra e Tūī,
me koe Kererū …
oho mai Tīrairaka,
me koe Kea tutū.”
“Haere mai Korimako,
Kōkako whakamā,
ki te mahi ngātahi,
kia kaha koutou!”
Ka rere mai ko Ruru
rapu kai i ngā pō,
ka karanga a Hana Koko,
“Kiwi Paku, piki mai!”
Ka rekareka a Kiwi,
ka hari, ka koa,
ahiahi Kirihimete
rere ki te rangi.
Ka kekeho a Kiwi
ka mapu tūtoro,
“Ko wai ka kōrero,
kiwi kore rere?”
He mihi Kirihimete Kiwi,
mihi kau ana mō te Tau Hou,
mīharo, tumeke,
ka mau te wehi!