This short Maori poem discusses the importance of people in the world. It uses metaphors of a flax plant and bellbird to represent how people are the most important part of the world - without people, like the center of the flax being pulled out causing it to die, the world would lose its song or spirit, represented by the bellbird no longer singing. The poem concludes by directly stating that the most important thing in the world is people.

1. EVERGLADE SCHOOL
Hutia te rito o te harakeke
Kei whea te komako e ko
Uia mai koe ki ahau;
He aha te mea nui o te ao
Maku e ki atu
He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!
If the centre of the flax is pulled out
(and the flax dies)
Where will the bellbird sing
If you were to ask me
What is the most important think in the world
I would reply
It is people, it is people, it is people.
MAORI