Karakia Whangai Whetu.

When the people began their seasonal work of planting crops they were careful first to invoke the aid of the food-giving stars so that all food crops might flourish, and pests and diseases be prevented. The priest first gathered a quantity of the leaves of the young plants. These were taken to the tuahu or sacred place of the pa and there offered to the stars while the priest recited:

"Tupurupuru atua e e,
Ka eke mai i te rangi e roa e e.
Whangainga ki te mata o te tau e e,
Atu tahi atua.
Ka piki mai i te rangi e e,
Whangainga iho ra ki te mata o te tau e e.
Tuku rua atua.
Ka eke mai i te rangi e tu nei e e,
Whangainga iho ra ki te tomairangi e e.
Whanui atua.
Ka eke mai i te rangi e popoki nei e e,
Whangainga iho ra ki te matomato e e.
Ki te hau ora e e."