The Oldsalt blog is certainly interesting regarding NZ whaling history and the Maori involvement, and for info on 'tonguing', but we are more interested here in where the song came from. It's not muddying any water. It's just that the thread has now gone beyond that point and the answers appear to lie in A W Reed's book which is mentioned in a few places online and exists in some NZ libraries, as one would expect. However, Bob and I can't find a copy for sale anywhere.

Perhaps we need the assistance of a NZ Catter?