Rituals of Encounter NZ Maori 'Style'

Every culture, every nation, every community have rituals for greeting and introduction that are unique to their world view.

Your world view is determined by your belief systems - why you do what you do. The way you have been raised, who raises you and what you absorb whilst growing up automatically determines, in part, your actions.

The first point of contact with any person (outside of your immediate family) can create a challenging moment. Who are they, why do you want to know each other, what is the purpose of the meeting, how do you connect - what do you have in common?

A pōwhiri (por-fer-ree), is a formal greeting process used by Māori communities. It encompasses traditional practices designed to protect the personal, physical and spiritual integrity of both the hosts and the visitors.

The following postings will take you on a journey of understanding how and why Māori greet their visitors the way they do!