Tangi a te ruru
kei te hoki hoki mai nei
te ata wero wero te tipu
tahi ana
naku nei ro koe kia tuku kia haere
tera pupuritia ino tuku rawa kia ora e
Te hokinga mai tena koutou
Tangi ana te ngakau i te aroha
tutonu na te mana te ihi
o nga tupuna kua wehe atu ra
mauria mai te mauri tangata
he oranga mo te morehu
tangi mokai nei
he rapu ana i te ara tika
mo tatou katoa

The Ruru is crying
you have returned to us here
I gave you permission to travel afar
over in that land where you
were highly valued more 
you return may we greet you
my heart is crying because it's
full of love
because the values and things 
important to our ancestors who
have departed may live again
so bring back the life force
of the people
to provide us
who are left behind
like paupers
so we may choose the right road to follow