Haka Pōwhiri

Haka pōwhiri is a chant sometimes used in the rituals of formal welcoming (pōwhiri see further down in blog). The purpose is likened to that of of hauling a waka (large canoe) to shore. In the case of haka pōwhiri, the guests or manuhiri, are 'hauled onto the marae' by the home people (hunga kāinga) with a rope woven during the karanga process.

In the following video clip is a perfect example of a haka pōwhiri. This one is performed by senior students of Rutherford College who are welcoming new entrants (Yr 9) to their school. The karanga or call of the girls draws the crowd forward, with the support of the haka behind.

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!

Visual Example of a Pōwhiri

The following video clip is great example of a pōwhiri held to greet visitors to the Parihaka Festival. The editor has cut this peice to show the practices in the order of occurance. You can hear the first calls from the woman of the host group, followed by the visitors response. The host speaker begins the formalities of introduction, followed by the visitors (dont worry if you can't hear what the visitors are saying).

A kuia karanga stands to accept the koha (in this case a monetry gift), laid prior to her response. If you listen closely, you will hear waiata (songs) that have been sung after a speaker has completed his kōrero (speech).

Finally, both parties meet and greet as one. Practises of hongi (nose to nose, forehead to forehead), shaking of hand and a kiss are all used in this process.

To learn more about these practices and processes, read the Free Pōwhiri E-book and/or purchase the Pōwhiri Edu-card.