Full Song Lyrics
The traditional English carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas” dates back over 300 years. While the original lyrics are part of the public domain, this collection reimagines the song through an Aotearoa New Zealand lens – celebrating native wildlife, landscapes, and storytelling.
A PUKEKO IN A PONGA TREE
“ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love gave to me,
A pukeko in a ponga tree.
...
ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love gave to me,
Two kumara, and
A pukeko in a ponga tree.
...
ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love gave to me,
Three flax kits,
Two kumara, and
A pukeko in a ponga tree.
...
ON THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love gave to me,
Four huhu grubs,
Three flax fits,
Two kumara, and
A pukeko In a ponga tree.
...
ON THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love gave to me,
Five Big Fat Pigs …
Four huhu grubs,
Three flax kits,
Two kumara, and
A pukeko in a ponga tree.
...
ON THE SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love gave to me,
Six poi-a-twirling,
Five Big Fat Pigs …
Four huhu grubs,
Three flax kits,
Two kumara, and
A pukeko in a ponga tree.
...
ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love gave to me,
Seven eel-a-swimming,
Six poi-a-twirling,
Five Big Fat Pigs ...
Four huhu grubs,
Three flax kits,
Two kumara, and
A pukeko in a ponga tree.
...
ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love gave to me,
Eight plants of puha,
Seven eel-a-swimming,
Six poi-a-twirling,
Five Big Fat Pigs …
Four huhu grubs,
Three flax kits,
Two kumara, and
A pukeko in a ponga tree.
...
ON THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love gave to me,
Nine sacks of pipis,
Eight plants of puha,
Seven eel-a-swimming,
Six poi-a-twirling,
Five Big Fat Pigs …
Four huhu grubs,
Three flax kits,
Two kumara, and
A pukeko in a ponga tree.
...
ON THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love gave to me,
Ten juicy fish heads,
Nine sacks of pipis,
Eight plants of puha,
Seven eel-a-swimming,
Six poi-a-twirling,
Five Big Fat Pigs …
Four huhu grubs,
Three flax kits,
Two kumara, and
A pukeko in a ponga tree.
...
ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love gave to me,
Eleven haka lessons,
Ten juicy fish heads,
Nine sacks of pipis,
Eight plants of puha,
Seven eel-a-swimming,
Six poi-a-twirling,
Five Big Fat Pigs …
Four huhu grubs,
Three flax kits,
Two kumara, and
A pukeko in a ponga tree.
...
ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love gave to me,
Twelve puipui swinging,
Eleven haka lessons,
Ten juicy fish heads,
Nine sacks of pipis,
Eight plants of puha,
Seven eel-a-swimming,
Six poi-a-twirling,
Five Big Fat Pigs …
Four huhu grubs,
Three flax kits,
Two kumara,
And A Pukeko In A Ponga Tree”