Kia Hora Te Marino

“Kia Hora Te Marino” is a setting of a traditional Maori blessing. While the opening wordless chorus is evocative of the maritime imagery found in much Maori writing, the song also makes use of two traditional forms of oratory: the haka, a ritualistic choreographed group dance, and the whaikorero, a form of speechmaking used to unite the collective will of the people. This is the twelfth movement of the song cycle Calling All Dawns - Part III: Day.