At the beginning of meetings, as practiced on marae and in meetings all over the country, a round of introductions and speeches usually occurs. During this time, Māori ordinarily stand to share a little bit about where they come from and who they are.

If you are of Māori descent, these introductions often start with a pepeha. Pepeha is a medium by which sacred and profane knowledge is passed from one person to another regarding the speaker’s identity. It embraces charms, witticisms, figures of speech, boasts and other sayings (H. W. Williams, 1971, p. 274). Pepeha are used especially (but by no means exclusively) for sayings that encapsulate the boundaries or characteristics of a tribal group or region. It is etiquette to introduce yourself and it is an important part of building a sense of identity and belonging. Pepeha are essential ingredients in formal oratory, and indeed continue to be a primary means of conveying important social, cultural, legal and political principles and information (Richard Benton, Frame, Meredith, & Te Mātāhauariki, 2013).

For non Māori, the correct term is ‘mihimihi’, a greeting and introduction about yourself. Do not state this is your pepeha.

 

Mihimihi template

This template has been adapted from Otago University Māori/Indigenous Health Institute (MIHI) for non-Māori staff to be able to participate in a culturally safe pepeha/mihihi using their personal information.

It is advisable that you do not deviate from this template without consultation, as you could risk cultural appropriation, offence to Māori you are speaking to or even be perceived as committing a cultural fraud by claiming you are someone that you are not.

Some Māori upon hearing that an AirNZ flight is included as a waka in a mihimihi, may take offence, as the plane trip, a comfortable/luxurious trip where you were likely served food and beverages and made to feel welcome and relaxed is being compared to the sacrifice and scientific knowledge of the early Māori explorers/settlers who voyaged in open seas on their waka.

 

Tēnā koutou (may be said up to three times) katoa            Formal greetings to everyone (more than 2 people)

Ko (insert name of mountain) te maunga               Insert the name of the mountain from your home region that you and your family have links to/ or that is of significance to you all.

OR

Ngā mihi au ki te maunga ō (insert name of mountain)    If there are no mountain of immediate significance to your whānau, choose another mountain to acknowledge and use the alternative version provided. Replace maunga with puke (hill) if there is a hill of significance. This acknowledges the significance of this mountain to you, while not claiming guardianship or whakapapa connections. Replace maunga with puke (hill) if there is a hill of significance.

Ko (insert name of river) te awa                 This acknowledges the significance of this river to you, while not claiming guardianship or whakapapa connections.

OR

Ko (insert name of lake) te roto Insert the name of the lake from your home region that you and your family have links to, or that is of significance to you all.

OR

Ko (insert name of ocean) te moana (ocean)                        Insert the name of the ocean from your home region that you and your family have links to, or that is of significance to you all.

OR

Ngā mihi au ki te (awa /roto OR moana) o (insert name of body of water)               If you have not been able to identify a body of water which is of immediate significance to your family, choose another, to acknowledge and use the alternative version provided

Ko (insert name of country) te whenua ō ōku tīpuna         My ancestors come from (country of significance to your ancestor(s)

Engari, i tipu ake au ki (insert county here)            Include this line if you grew up in a different region/ country.

I te tau (insert year) I haere mai au (replace au with ia if referring to someone else) ki Aotearoa   I migrated/came to Aotearoa in the year

Ko te (Country/Place name) whenua ō ōku tīpuna              My ancestors come from (country of significance to your ancestor(s)

I te tau (Year) i haere mai a (Name) ki Aotearoa  (Name of ancestor) came to Aotearoa in (the year)

Ko (insert place name here) te wā kāinga ō tōku whānau                 Think about where your ancestor settled, and or where you and or your whānau have been based i.e. town/city.

Engari, i tipu ake au ki (insert region here)             Include this line if you grew up in a different region.

Ko (insert your first and last name) tōku ingoa     My name is

Nō reira, Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa  herefore, and so I give you all formal greetings once, twice and thrice.

 

References

A dictionary of the Maori language / H.W. Williams.

Te Mātāpunenga: A Compendium of References to the Concepts and Institutions of Māori Customary Law. Richard Benton, Alex Frame, Paul Meredith