Understanding Māori tikanga (local customs)
and introducing Te Reo Māori 

This video provides information to assist people who wish to incorporate te reo Māori into their presentation. Included are pronunciation tips, important local terms, and a phrase to acknowledge the local hapū (sub-tribe), Ngāi Tūāhuriri from the lands on which the conference will be held. 

Mihi whakatau
In accordance with tikanga (local customs), our conference will open with a whakatau (welcome ceremony) from the local hapū (sub-tribe), Ngāi Tūāhuriri.

This ceremony is important as it provides the local people an opportunity to understand who has come into their territory and why. It is also a chance for them to acknowledge you, their guests/manuhiri, and the ancestors that you bring with you. At its heart, however, the purpose of a whakatau is to help settle us before the conference begins through shared connections, intentions, and respect.

The ceremony will embody our conference theme, “Weaving Connection and Knowledge” as it represents our commitment to bring Indigenous and Western scientific knowledge together into a meaningful relationship. We recognise the distinct contributions that each can make to improving mental health outcomes for all, but especially for those that our Western system has underserved in the past.

All attendees are invited to participate, including familiarising yourself with the waiata (song) ‘Te Aroha’ which we will sing to support our spokesperson during the ceremony.

Te aroha
Te whakapono
Te rangimarie
Tātou, tātou e

Love
Faith
Peace
For us all

Poroaki
At the conclusion of the conference, we will be guided by tikanga and come together to complete the closing ceremony, known as poroaki. This is our opportunity to reflect on our time together, acknowledge the relationships and learning that have been shared, express gratitude to those who have hosted and contributed to the gathering, and formally bring our time together to a close.

In keeping with our conference theme, “Weaving Connection and Knowledge,” the poroaki illustrates how the customs of one culture can support peoples of many cultures when approached with respect. We hope the relationships, conversations and insights shared together over these last few days will continue beyond the conference, contributing to ongoing collaboration and collective efforts to improve mental health outcomes for all.

Attendees are invited to participate respectfully and follow the guidance of our hapū representatives and conference hosts. Meaningful participation would include familiarising yourself with the waiata (song) ‘Ehara i te mea’ and joining in singing this following the concluding speech given in thanks to Ngāi Tūāhuriri.

Ehara i te mea
Nō inaianei te aroha
Nō ngā tupuna
I tuku iho, i tuku iho

This is not a new thing,
Love
It is handed down from our ancestors

Some common Māori words and phrases

• Kia ora (Hello – informal to one or more people)

• Tēnā koe (Hello – formal - to one person)

• Tēnā kōrua (Hello – formal - to two people)

• Tēnā koutou (Hello – formal – to three or more people)

• Mōrena (Good morning)• Haere mai (Welcome)

• Ngā mihi (Thank you)• Ka pai (Good)

• Mā te wā (See you later)

• Mō taku hē (My apologies/I’m sorry)

• Pō mārie (Good night)

• Hui (Gathering, meeting)

• Kai (Food)

• Mahi (Work)

• Kōrero (Speak, converse)

• Whānau (Extended family)

• Mana Whenua (Local people)

• Tangata Whenua (Indigenous people)

• Ngāi Tūāhuriri (Local subtribe/Mana Whenua)

• Ōtautahi (Christchurch)• Ōtākaro (Avon River)

• Aotearoa (New Zealand)

• Te reo Māori (Māori language)

Some links and resources you may wish to use to further support your engagement in Te Reo Māori:

Te Aka: Māori Dictionary https://maoridictionary.co.nz/

Aki Hauora App - Game to support health professionals to learn health related terms:  https://healthify.nz/apps/a/aki-hauora-app

Te Reo Hāpai: Māori language glossary for mental health, addiction and disability sectors https://www.tepou.co.nz/resources/te-reo-hapai-the-language-of-enrichment-glossary

Ngā Māuiui Kai: Māori language glossary for eating disorders https://www.wharaurau.org.nz/all-resources/nga-mauiui-kai-a-te-reo-maori-glossary-for-eating-disorders

Other resources: https://www.otago.ac.nz/maori/world/te-reo-maori