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  1. Nukukehe

From the recording Nukukehe

Tokelau's cash economy has greatly changed the lives of the people living in Tokelau. The incentive to work the land is quickly diminishing. Cigarettes and sugar rich items subsidised and sold to the people are causing a serious rise in Diabetes and other health damaging effects.
 
Tokelau language
 
 

Lyrics

NUKUKEHE (A different land)
Opetaia Foa'i Lyrics,
Opetaia Foai & Malcolm Smith Music

Au na fofou fia kikila kia koe
Taku atu ai kina tino uma
Ko au na fafia mimita lahi
Ona fai e au na pehe mo koe

Teki au fakalogo kua sui tou olaga
Tiga e lahi na mea faigata
Kae taumafai lava ke taunuku
Taunuku te malaga fetaui ai taua

Tele tele kehe kehe
Tele kehe
Te lagona halamo
Na lagona halamo

Kua kehe mea

Te fanoanoa i te pa atuga ki na
Ho ve kua fai toku tuai atu
Kua teka atu na aso lelei
Na iei aganuku na
Aganuku lava moni

Kehe mai te olaga
Te olaga ona mea fou
Taofi ai na galuega lelei
Liliu kina uiga faigofie

Tatau na hakili he auala
Fakamimita uma ki tatou
Fakamakeke talia tali lelei
Teki kua tuai atu

O te nuku atunuku
na fia taunuku ai te malaga
Te malaga kua leva na fia tau




A DIFFERENT LAND

I dreamt of meeting you
And proceeded to tell everyone about you
I was so proud
I even wrote songs about you

I hesitated when I heard you’d changed
But still braved the elements to see you
The journey itself an adventure
An introduction leading me to you

Many many differences differences
Many differences
Overcome with sadness
I was overcome with sadness

Things have changed

I was saddened to have finally met you
As I came a little too late
Your prime was long ago
When there was real pride in you

This is a different place now
Spoilt by things that are new
People no longer tending the land
But opting to take the easy way out

We need to find a way
To make us all proud again
We need to be strong
In actioning the right answer
Before it’s far too late

This land, this land I’ve always wanted

© Spirit of Play Productions/Opetaia Foa'i