Pepeha and mihi: introducing yourself in Aotearoa

In many cultures, when you meet someone important, you don't start with your name. You start with where you come from and who your people are. In te ao Māori, a pepeha does this. It tells listeners how you are connected to the land and to people, so they can find their connections to you.

What's in a pepeha

A pepeha often names these, in this order:

What's a mihi?

A mihi is a greeting or acknowledgement. It might greet everyone present ('Tēnā koutou katoa'), acknowledge the place and the people, and then introduce the speaker. A pepeha is often part of a mihi. On a marae, formal speeches called whaikōrero follow their own structure and are led by experienced speakers.

Doing it with respect

A pepeha is taonga, something treasured. Your whānau hold the knowledge of your connections, so prepare it with them or with your school's te reo Māori lead. Never guess or borrow connections that aren't yours. If you don't have Māori whakapapa, or don't know your heritage, you can still introduce yourself in a respectful way: name the mountain and river of the place where you live now, and your family's heritage, in a form your school's te reo lead is happy with.

Say it well

Practise each word with audio from Te Aka Māori Dictionary. Stand tall, speak slowly and look at your listeners. Getting the pronunciation right is a way of showing respect.