The sun slides slowly skywards through the grey barred winter dawn
And the Seaward Kaikouras light up as if new born.
Blues and pinks, golds and greys scatter through the sky,
In the bay the dusky dolphin silently slips by.

The townsfolk in their houses tight closed throughout the night,
Now slowly start to waken to take up the age old fight.
There's no headstart for towns like this, just one unending race,
So Kaikoura town clings tightly to its people and its place.

For it's a long and narrow foothold, scratched at the mountains feet,
Where the measure of their lives is the seas incessant beat.
Built on oil and baleen, scrimshaw teeth and bones and such
A ceaseless daily slaughter that soon became too much.

But still the days dawn brightly, flashing gold and green and blue,
The penguins, whales and dolphins give each day a special hue.
And the Seaward Kaikouras still stand and watch the waves
As their forefathers before them throughout the passing days.