Tikanga Maori1.1 Students will learn a short mihimihi or

informal introduction

1.2 Students will learn a waiata “Ma wai ra” to use at the completion of a whaikorero

1.3 Students will participate in a mock powhiri process

PōwhiriA powhiri is a formal welcome to a place.

Powhiri most commonly take place at a Marae. Much of what is practiced during the pohiri process is guided by Maori protocol and etiquette otherwise referred to as tikanga and kawa.

Tau utuutu / Paeke

Tau utuutuA kaikōrero (speaker) on the tangata whenua side

starts, followed by a speaker from the manuwhiri (visitors). Each side alternates, however the tangata whenua conclude (which means that they always require one extra speaker than the visitors: they both start the whaikōrero and conclude it) 

PaekeAll of the kaikōrero on the tangata whenua (host)

side speak first, after which, all of the kaikōrero on the manuwhiri side respond and once all manuhiri have finished it is then closed by the tangata whenua side.

Kawa

“How it’s done”, the practise, ritual and ceremonial aspect

Example – All hapū share the tikanga of manaakitanga:

welcoming visitors onto their marae– Not all hapū share the same kawa, or mode of

welcoming their manuhiri

Tikanga

Tika = right, correct, just, upright

Tika-nga = “What is done”, protocols, customs based on communal understanding of what is tika

Encompasses principles and laws that govern behaviour– Social– Ethical – Spiritual

Tapu

Melanesian/Polynesian root word: tabu or taboo

Restricted, set apart, sacred, of the atua

All people have a certain level of tapu

An area designated as set apart, spiritually or historically significant, or even unsafe

Noa

Common, everyday

The counterpart (not opposite, or absence) of tapu

“Often noa refers to restoring a balance”1

Indicates a state of normality and safety

1Hirini Moko Mead, 2003. Tikanga Maori: Living by Maori Values. Wellington: Huia Publishers.

Manaakitanga

Root words Mana and Aki (to raise) Superficially: manaakitanga = hospitality Obligation to show hospitality from a desire to

increase mana, personally and collectively

“He takahi manuhiri, he marae puehu”

Mistreatment of visitors will result in a dusty Marae

Whanaungatanga

Kinship– Matemateāone (concept of inter-

connective-ness with kin and land) Impresses the importance of whānau Ideas of what is whānau extended by this

concept– whanaungatanga can be experienced between

those unrelated by whakapapa– Groups who share a common goal, kapa haka

groups, can all be described as a type of whānau

The Powhiri Process

The powhiri process will include all or some of the following activities:

Wero Karanga Whakaeke Whaikorero Koha/Whakaaro Waiata Hongi/Hariru Kai

Waiata

Waiata (or song) is performed after each whaikōrero. The quality and intent of the waiata is critical, as once again, it upholds the mana of that group (i.e. the tangata whenua or manuwhiri) and embellishes the exchanges made during the whaikōrero.

Ma wai ra(Extract from Henare Te Owai lament, 1933)

Ma wai ra

E taurima

Te marae i waho nei?

Ma te tika

Ma te pono

Me te aroha e

Who will take responsibility

on the marae now?

There can be justice

and truth

only if there is love.

Summary

Tikanga are the intellectual principles that guide behaviour. Kawa are the ritual manifestations of tikanga

Tikanga were commonly understood, emotionally and spiritually entrenched systems of law, justice

FURTHER READINGS

If you would like to read more about Maori protocols have a look at the following books:

Mead, Hirini.M, 2003. Tikanga Maori: Living by Maori Values.

Rewi, Poia, 2010. Whaikorero: The World of Maori Oratory.

Salmond, Anne, 1996. Hui: A Study of Maori Gatherings.