She had the power to name us
and lined us in a row
"Your name is Gary"
"No "I replied"It is Tama Te Ora'
"Your name is Gary now"
White was right
Britian was like a Land of Gods
where ideas ruled the World
All these men we learnt about
were British and Christian
not Maori and Hau-Hau
like my Koro
Aue.I learnt and learnt
to count money
and speak in the Queens best
and my whanau said
"The Maori way is dying
learn to be like the Pakeha"
I was beaten when I spoke my tongue
and my Whaia became Mum
Later I got a job in the Civil Service
and learnt the Pakeha Law
now I use that Law
against the Pakeha
To my Brown Brothers I am White
to the Whites I am a Hori
But now when you see me
you'd better not call me Gary
for my name,my name is Tama Te Ora
it is the name that carries those who went before
who came from Hawaiki
to escape the war
It is the name
that's written on my bones
So you'd better not call me
Gary no more