no muskets, no meres
no adzes, no taiaha
only raukura from an albatross wing

only an emblem of peace
of hapu, mana and rangatiratanga:
to what avail against the guns?

To what avail against cold winds
from the south which
breach the pallisades
and storm the pa?

O raukura, raukura
cradled in our hands
white feather, white feather
sacred gift of the land.