Karakia Poka

In 2023 ANZCA commissioned tohunga (expert practitioner) Mark Kopua (Te Atianga a Hauiti) to create a special karakia to provide pre-surgery comfort to patients and their families and whānau. 

Karakia are prayers or incantations used by Māori to acknowledge and affirm the spiritual world and their ancestors. Māori families frequently use karakia in their day-to-day lives. In the case of upcoming surgery, karakia offers another element of protection to the person undergoing anaesthetic.  

Creation of the ANZCA karakia was funded through a grant from the ANZCA Health Equity Projects Fund. The fund supports ANZCA’s work to improve the health and wellbeing of our community.

Anyone is welcome to use this karakia, and we would encourage all hospitals and anaesthesia departments in Aotearoa/New Zealand and beyond caring for Māori patients (in particular) to:

• Print this A3 poster (with the original te Reo text and English translation) and put it on display.
• Print this A4 handout (also available in English) and offer to patients and their families/whānau.
• Practice reciting it with the help of these beginner and expert pronunciation audio guides. 
• What are karakia?
• About Tohunga Mark Kopua