The Maori version of How Great Thou Art. Whakaaria Mai was made popular by Sir Howard Morrison, a famous Maori singer and entertainer in New Zealand. He sung it in 1981 during the Royal Command Performance when the Queen (Elizabeth II) visited the country.
Whakaaria Mai had tremendous sucess when released as a single, having the #1 spot on the NZ Music charts for five weeks and remaining on the charts for six months.
The words below are not a Maori translation of the hymn. However, they are sung to the same tune. The Maori words are sung to the same tune as the verse and then repeated again with the words sung to the same tune as the chorus.
Maori Verse
Whakaaria mai
Töu ripeka ki ahau
Tiaho mai
a roto i te pö
Ki kona au
Titiro atu ai
Ora, mate
Hei ahau koe noho ai
English Translation
(compare with the English words)
Show
your cross to me
Let it shine
out of the dark
There I will be
looking
In life, in death
let me rest in thee