Maori and Marae Cultural Protocol
Hongi - Traditional Maori Greeting
Maori Carvings
Traditional Maori Clothing
Extended Whanau (Family)

Maori and Marae Cultural Protocol

Marae and Powhiri (Welcoming Ceremony) Protocol

Arrival at the Marae

Manuhiri (visitors) should arrive at a given time and wait outside the gate or main entrance until leaders of the group decide to move forward in readiness to be called onto the marae – usually women in front and in the middle. Before stepping onto the marae, the manuhiri should have organised who will speak, have given a koha (gift) to the last speaker and also have a waiata (song) ready.

Wero (the challenge)

A young male of the local group usually performs a challenge. It is a non-verbal test of the visitors' motives, which is whether they come in peace or war. The type of challenge varies with districts or occasions. These days this part of a powhiri is only performed at special occasions.

Karanga

A woman from the tangata whenua (hosts), calls to the manuhiri (visitors) and upon hearing the Karanga (calling), the manuhiri begin to advance. At this point of the welcome, the visitors become tapu (sacred). The Karanga is normally answered by a woman in the visiting group.

Whakaeke

During the Karanga the manuhiri advance slowly towards the wharenui (meeting house). Once the group reaches the area approximately twenty metres in front of the house they pause and bow their heads for about two to three minutes in memory of those that have passed away. Depending on the area, the visitors may then take up the seats provided, with speakers sitting in the front row.

Whaikorero

The whaikorero (formal speech) is usually opened with a taparapara (chant), and is followed by mihimihi (traditional greetings) acknowledging the following:

- Land
- Wharenui
- The Dead
- The People Present
- The Reason for Gathering

Depending on the area, the whaikorero procedure will follow one of two styles, Paeke or Tauutuutu:

PAEKE
- All tangata whenua (home people) speak first, then all the manuhiri (guests) speak with the last speaker being tangata whenua.

TAUUTUUTU
- The order of speaker’s alternate from tangata whenua to manuhiri with speakers from the tangata whenua being the first and last to speak.

Koha

The koha, an expression of appreciation and respect for the hospitality of the hosts, is normally laid down or presented by the last speaker of the manuhiri, this is usually in the form of money. A representative from the tangata whenua will then pick it up accompanied by a mihi of gratitude.

Hongi

Once the powhiri has concluded, manuhiri are then invited to come forward in a line from a certain direction to hariru (shake hands) and hongi (pressing of noses). It is through this ritual that peace, oneness in thought, purpose and hope is expressed. The hongi is a sign of life symbolizing the action of the God’s breathing into humans the breath of life. By this action the life force is permanently established and the spiritual and physical bodies become living entity.

Kai (Food)

The manuhiri are then taken to have a hakari (meal) and this completes the formal welcome and removal of tapu from them. The visitors now become tangata whenua and participate in the other activities that occur on the marae.

Nohu Marae Etiquette

The marae is sacred to the living and is a memorial to those who have passed on, for this reason entry on the marae is in a reverent manner.

- Smoking and eating during the official welcome is not permitted.
- Young children must be held on to and not left to roam free during the official welcome.
- Dress is tidy casual. For women long skirts are preferable.
- The marae atea (the area immediately in front of the meeting house) must be kept clear at all times to welcome visitors should any arrive.
- At the conclusion of the powhiri the manuhiri are free to collect their baggage and bring it into the meeting house. This is placed at the foot of the beds allocated to them.

Wharenui (Meeting House)

Sleeping together in one building – the wharenui or meeting house may be a new experience for some so please remember the key rules of politeness:

- Respect each other at all times
- Shoes are to be removed upon entering the wharenui and placed neatly on the veranda or taken beside your baggage.
- Do not stand up or walk in front of the speaker, walk around instead.
- Please do not step over others.
- Use space wisely, you are allowed to share a mattress.
- Normally the tangata whenua occupy the left hand side of the meeting house while the manuhiri occupy the right side, this also applies to sleeping arrangements.
- Try to avoid standing on mattresses or sitting on pillows.
- Tidy mattresses and bedclothes before going to breakfast. It is offensive if you enter the wharekai in your pyjamas.
- Keep clothes in bags, suitcases or neatly folded on top. Please do not hang from carvings or pictures. Special hangers may be provided.
- The majority of Marae prohibit food and drink to be taken into the wharenui including the surrounding area, i.e. courtyard.

What to bring?
- You will need a change of clothes, towels, toiletries etc.
- Blankets, sheets, pillows and pillowcases.

Wharekai (Dining House)

Do not sit on tables, kitchen benches or areas where food is prepared or placed to be eaten. Kitchen facilities, sinks etc are not to be used for bathing purposes or washing of clothing. Walk around not over the hangi pit and stones.
Meals (in the wharekai only) are preceded by the saying of karakia or prayer. Once we have completed our first meal we then become part of the tangata whenua and are allowed (and expected) to help with dishes, food, preparations, etc.

Conduct on the marae is very general in nature; it is based on common sense.

Karakia

Karakia or prayer is used to begin and end gatherings in a Maori context. The fundamental principle behind karakia is acknowledgement that can take on many interpretations, for example, acknowledgement of the creator of the heavens and earth and all things in between or acknowledgement of whanaungatanga kinship.

In the context of these sessions karakia is a time for the group to reflect on the reasons why it is an important and integral component of learning about things Maori. If attending a Maori hui you will no doubt encounter karakia.


KARAKIA TIMATANGA

Tukua taku wairua kia rere ki ngā traumata
Hei ārahi I āku mahi
Me taku whai I te reo Māori
Kia mau kia ita
Kia kore ai e ngaro
Kia pupuri kia whakamaua kia tīna (tīna!)
Huamī e
Hui e
Tāiki e!

KARAKIA WHAKAMUTUNGA

Kia tau kia tātou katoa
Te atawhai o te runga rawa
Te aroha o tētahi ki tetahi
Me ngā manaakitanga o te wā
Hui e
Tāiki e!

Basic Conversational Maori

Greeting phrases:

When meeting a person or a group of people, the following greetings would be appropriate depending on numbers being greeted.

Kia ora (koe, kōrua, koutou) - Hello, Good Health (one, two, several)
Kia ora Thankyou

Tēnā koe - Greetings. (One person)
Tēnā kōrua - Greetings. (Two people)
Tena koutou - Greetings. (Three or more people)
Tena koutou katoa - Greetings to each and everyone of you.

Kei te pēhea koe? - How are you? (One person)
Kei te pēhea korua? - How are you? (Two people)
Kei te pēhea koutou? - How are you? (Three or more people)

Kei te pai. - I am well.

Mōrena - Good Morning.
Ata Mārie - Good Morning.
Ahiahi mariē - Good Afternoon.
Haere rā - Good Bye (When person is leaving)
E noho rā - Good Bye (When speaker is leaving)
Ka kite anō - See you again
Hei konā rā - Good Bye (When talking on the telephone)

Some Commands:

E noho - Sit down
E tū  - Stand up
Haere mai - Come here
Haere atu - Go away
Haere rā - Farewell
Hoki mai - Come back
Kuhu mai - Come in
Turituri - Be quiet
Whakarongo (mai) - Listen (to me)
Titiro (mai) - Look (at me)
Kia tere - Be quick, hurry
Kia tūpato - Be careful
Kia pai - Be good
Kia kaha - Be strong

Survival Reo

The following statements are to help those who may have difficulty conveying their thoughts through the medium of Te Reo Maori. We hope the following korero will assist where appropriate.

MAORI ENGLISH
Kei hea te wharepaku? Where’s the toilet?
Kei hea te… Wheres the…
Kei hea a… Where’s… (persons name)
He inu māu? Would you like a drink?
Ā hea te…? When is the…?
He aha tērā? What’s that?
He aha te tāima? What’s the time?
He aha te kupu Māori mo…? What’s the Maori word for…?
Taihoa Hang on
Homai koa te…? Please give me the…?
Kia rua koa ngā huka Two sugars please
Kei te haere koe ki hea? Where are you going?
Ko wai tērā e hoa? Who’s that bro?
He aha tō karaehe I tenei wa? What’s your class now?
He aha te mahi ināianei? What’s happening now?
Kua mutu te…? Has the… finished?
Kua timata te…? Has the… started?
Ma kinei e hoa? This way bro?
Āe Māika!!! Yes indeed!!!
He whanaunga taua! We’re related!


TIME Unlimited Tours Presents…


MAORI TIME 

Maori Cultural Overnight Experience with Marae Sleepover

Kiaora e hoa ma (Hello our friends),

Thanks for joining us and we hope you have the TIME of your life!

Naku noa na Ceillhe raua ko Neill


WHAKAHUAHUA REO – PRONUNCIATION

a path - ara aa / ā fa¬ther - papa
e pen - Pene¬ ee / ē egg – hēki
i drink – inu ii / ī tea – tī
o porker – poaka oo / ō ball – pōro
u p¬¬¬ull – kume uu / ū shoe - Hū

“ng” – singer

“r” – Cheddar (said quickly will pronounce this letter)

“wh” – (f) soft sound e.g. fake

a Haka Mana Para Tawa Ngāwha
e Heke Mene Pere Tewe Ngēwhē
i Hiki Mini Piri Tiwi Ngīwhī
o Hoko Mono Poro Towo Ngōwhō
a e i o u…
u huku munu puru tuwu Ngūwhū


Nga Mihi (Greetings)

TENA KOA – formal greeting one person
TENA KORUA – formal greeting 2people
TENA KOUTOU – formal greeting 3 +
KIA ORA – Hi or Thank You
KIA ORA KORUA - Hi to 2 people
KIA ORA KOUTOU – informal greeting 3 or more people To Reo Mo te Tari (Language for the office)
Have you got a pen? – He pene tau?
Here is my business card – Anei taku kari mahi
The deal is done – kua man tera
We are all in agreement – E whakaae anu tatou katoa/hui e Taiki e!
Now, how about this? – Ana, pehea tenei?
Cheers! – Mauriora!
Te Reo mo Te Papa Takaro (Sports Talk)

Go all blacks go! – kia kaha te kappa o pango!
Awesome – Tau ke or tumeke!
Great play! – Ka mau te wehi!
Big hit! – He tukinga nui!
Great shot! – he kuru rawe! Te Reo Aroha (The Language of Love)

You look beautiful – to ataahua hoki!
You are the love of my life – Ko koe te kuku o taku Manawa
Here are some flowers for you – He putiputi mau

Please check out our Maori Tours and authentic Maori Culture Experiences around Auckland:
Auckland Maori Tours
Auckland Maori Tours Extra
Marae Visits
Kia Ora Cuisine
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