Whakataukī
Kia pai te whakatere i te waka, Kei pariparia e te tai, Ka monehu te kura nei
Steer with skill the canoe, Lest the outgoing tide endangers, The lives of those on board [This whakataukī given in the Ngāti Kahungunu submission at the Hastings hui warns of the inherent dangers if we choose the wrong direction.]
Tuatahi ko te wai, tuarua whānau mai te tamaiti, ka puta ko te whenua
When a child is born the water comes first, then the child, followed by the afterbirth (whenua)
Inumia, inumia, i ngā wai kaukau o o tūpuna
Drink, drink of the bathing waters of your ancestors
Ko te wai te ora ngā mea katoa
Water is the life giver of all things
He taura whiri kotahi mai anō te kopunga tai no i te pu au
From the source to the mouth of the sea all things are joined together as one
