Karakia are Māori incantations and prayers used to invoke spiritual guidance and protection. They serve various purposes, such as increasing the spiritual goodwill of a gathering or formally greeting participants at the beginning of a ceremony.

These karakia can blend Christian and traditional influences, making literal translations into English challenging. In modern Māori society, karakia often open important meetings and ceremonies, both within Māori contexts and in wider New Zealand settings

Click on the images below to hear how these karakia sound...

Blessing your Pounamu

Pounamu has long been regarded as a tapu (sacred) part of te ao Māori (the Māori world) and a natural taonga (treasure) under the protection of ngā atua (the gods). To Māori, any person, place, or item considered tapu is believed to be restricted, prohibited, and untouchable, with the violation of tapu things leading to retribution and direct consequences from ngā atua. Tapu controls how people behave towards each other and the environment, helping to protect people and natural resources.

Appropriate karakia (prayers and blessings) or ceremonies, often including water, were used to mitigate and remove tapu, making things noa (ordinary, unrestricted, and free from the extensions of tapu) and placing them firmly in the human world. For this reason, it is customary within Māori culture to bless pounamu before it is worn.

We can offer an opportunity to bless your pounamu through a practice that feels right for you. These include blessing the pounamu yourself by placing it in a river or stream and saying a karakia (prayer) or blessing the pounamu with the person receiving the gift so that the blessing is passed from you to the gift receiver.