This is a basic introduction for the pōwhiri or traditional Māori welcome at WITBC ’08 and offers an insight for some of the protocols of the Māori people. There are more than forty major iwi (Māori tribal groupings) throughout Aotearoa-New Zealand and within those tribes, we have sub-tribes known as hapū. There could be up to 10 or more hapū within the iwi structure.

Each iwi have their own kawa, or protocols that are unique to them and the kawa will change from iwi to iwi for reasons and traditions associated to that tribe. One of the most common kawa that is practiced throughout most tribes in Aotearoa is that women are not to deliver the speeches during the pōwhiri. 

Tangata whenua means people of the land, and mana whenua means the local tribe of the area that you are visiting.

Manuhiri are visitors or people that are not associated to the marae or the iwi. The term manuhiri tuārangi means visitor from a far or from distant shores.

During the pōwhiri or welcome, there are a few protocols that must be observed:

Wero literally means – to cast a spear. The purpose of the wero is to find out whether the manuhiri or visitors come in peace or in war. The wero is issued by a male warrior whom has mastered the art of Māori weaponry – he is called the kaiwero. It is the kaiwero that will perform the wero ceremony.

Immediately after the wero, the karanga is performed by our women folk. Depending on the occasion, the women may also tangi or wail during the karanga. The karanga is the start of the pōwhiri or welcome – without the karanga, the pōwhiri can not commence. In the karanga, the women refer to our loved ones whom have passed on from this world and they also acknowledge the importance of the occasion.

Haka pōwhiri is a welcome dance preformed by the mana whenua and tangata whenua to welcome the many visitors that have come from a far.

The karakia is a prayer that acknowledges the gods and also our ancestors. It also is an acknowledgement to the occasion. Māori commence everything we do with a karakia.

The whaikōrero is an important part of our culture – it is where our rangatira chiefs or elders formally greet our visitors. It is only the male folk that can deliver this part of the welcome.

Waiata or support song is important to add emphasis to the whaikōrero formal speeches; there are many types of songs for different occasions.

Hongi is a ritual representing the sharing of ones wairua or life force. Māori believe that the first person created had the breath of life enter through the nose, hence the reason we still practice the ritual of the pressing of noses together.

After the formal welcoming of the pōwhiri, it is kai or food that completes the ritual. By partaking in the eating of food, you now become noa or at one with the tangata whenua.

08:45am		Please assemble outside Owens Foyer doors, situated next to the Ticketek Box Office, where there will be two large Māori carvings.
09:05am		Pōwhiri will commence.
09:05am		The kaiwero will come forward to challenge manuhiri.
09:10am		A selected member from the manuhiri, will accept the wero. Please follow the kaiwero into the ASB Theatre.
09:20am		There will be a reply karanga from the manuhiri advancing toward the stage.
09:21am		After this, the tangata whenua will respond with a haka pōwhiri from the stage.
09:22am		Please take your seats in the theatre. A pre-selected group from the manuhiri will go up on stage to sit on the manuhiri side as representatives of your group.
09:25am		Mana whenua will lead us in a karakia.
09:28am		Whaikōrero from a representative of the mana whenua, followed by a waiata.
09:40am		Whaikōrero from a representative of the manuhiri, followed by a waiata.
09:47am		Whaikōrero from a representative of Māori Television, followed by a waiata.
09:59am		Whaikōrero from a representative of the manuhiri, followed by a waiata.
10:06am		Whaikōrero from a representative of the mana whenua, followed by a waiata.
10:20am		Manuhiri on stage are invited to hongi the mana whenua on completion of the pōwhiri.
10:30am		Please make your way out of the ASB Theatre to Level 3 – BNZ Foyer for morning tea.