Below are the lyrics to E Tamariki Oro Piako, a song composed by Sonny Daniel for the 2008 Mire Atu and sung by Daniel, Jerome Shedden and Curly George at Sir Apenera Shorts funeral yesterday. E Tamariki Oro Piako is an old adage that elders would tell when they saw children with bright futures.

Taku ivi, taku kiko, taku toto

Taku metua, noou te korero, noou te korero

Maitu taku manava

Noou e taku metua

Tei karuveti it e enua nei

Ei vaa piro na to uanga

Tei to vaa te pakari

Kua vai te kite, te mataku it e Atua

Ko toou, toou ia matutu

E tama ma, maine ma

Ariu mai o taringa

Tamou ia

Tena te korero

Tena te marama

Mei te akinanga tapu i pokata

Tei toou rim ate karape

E karape no te pakari

E toki tarai no te vaka oraanga

No te tinitini tei noo i te ipukarea

Kua tarai ia ei vaka purua

Ko Iesu tei te veo

Ko Iesu tei te veo

Te kaveinga, kaveinga o te aroa

E vaevae orooro no taku ipukarea

Kua tutara kite rangi atea o rongo

E tamariki oro piako

E tamariki oro piako