According to the story, he was being pursued by his enemies and a chief let him hide in one of his kumara pits. While he hid, he pondered his fate. Thanks to his friend Te Wharerangi (whom he referred to as the hairy man) he did live to see the sun again and composed this haka.
and here is the translation:
Ka mate, ka mate
Ka ora, ka ora
Ka mate, ka mate
Ka ora, ka ora
Tenei te tangata
Puhuruhuru
Nana i tiki mai
Whakawhiti te ra
Upane
Kaupane
Upane, kaupane
Whiti te ra, Hi!
I die, I die
I live, I live
I die, I die
I live, I live
This the
Hairy man
Who fetched the sun
and caused it to shine again
One upward step
another upward step
an upward step, another
The sun shines!
(Upward steps out of the pit)
Source: Te Wananga o Aotearoa. (2009). Te Ara Reo Maori Puna Kupu A dictionary and resource for Maori Language Beginners
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