Māori Business Korero
Making a speech - He Kōrero
When standing to make a speech it is customary to introduce yourself. It may also be appropriate to acknowledge key people. Māori often also greet and welcome the meeting place - whether on a marae or not. Greeting to a non-marae venue generally consists of acknowledgement of the building (whare) and the land (papatūānuku).
On a marae, the wharenui (or meeting house) is greeted because it often personifies a significant ancestor of the local people. The structure of the meeting house for example, represents the ancestor's body and the carved posts within the house represent figures in tribal history. It is also usual to greet the dead, who are present in spirit or physical form, brought to the marae by visitors and the tangata whenua.
Examples of a range of mihi are provided. Each mihi differs in relation to particular occasions or events - select the one that is most appropriate to you.
Mihi to welcome Department of Labour staff to a hui:- including acknowledgement to senior staff
Tuia i runga, tuia i raro
Bind it above, bind it below
Tuia i roto, tuia i waho
Bind it inside, bind it outside
Tuia i te herenga tangata
Bind us where people meet
Te whare e tū nei, tēnā koe
The house that stands here, greetings
Tū tonu, tū tonu
Stand forever
E ngā rangatira
To the Leaders
E ngā kaitiaki o Te Tari Mahi
Guardians of the Department of Labour
Ki te whānau Te Tari Mahi e huihui nei
To the whānau of the Department of Labour gathered here
Tēnā koutou
Greetings
Tēnā koutou
Greetings
Tēnā koutou katoa
Greetings to you all
Mihi to acknowledge guests and the venue (non-Marae)
Te whare e tū nei, tēnā koe
To this house standing here, greetings
Te papa i waho, tēnā koe
To the sacred earth outside, greetings
Ki te whānau e huihui nei
To the whānau gathered here
Tēnā koutou,
Greetings
Tēnā koutou,
Greetings
Tēnā tātou katoa
Greetings one and all
Mihi to acknowledge important dignitaries / guests
Tihēi Mauri ora
Behold the breath of life
E ngā mana
To the important ones
E ngā reo
To the speakers
Rau rangatira mā
The many respected people
Tēnā koutou
Greetings
Tēnā koutou
Greetings
Tēnā koutou katoa
Greetings to you all
Mihi to guests at a non-Marae venue: - including acknowledgement to those who have passed away
Tēnā koutou katoa
Greetings to you all
E ngā mate, haere, haere
To the dead
Hoki atu ra ki te pō
Be at peace
E te whare e tū mai nei
The house that stands here
E ngā mana,
To those people of note,
e ngā iwi,
the iwi,
e ngā reo
the voices
Tēnā koutou katoa
Greetings to you all
Mihi to guests on a Marae
Tēnā koutou katoa
Greetings to you all
E te whare e tū nei
The house standing here
E te marae e takoto mai
The Marae lying there
Tēnā kōrua
Greetings to you both
E ngā hau e whā
People of the four winds
E ngā iwi e tau nei
People gathered here
Tēnā koutou katoa
Greetings to you all
Mihi to acknowledge the Marae, the whānau of the Marae and to those who have passed away
Tihēi Mauri ora
Behold the breath of life
E te whare e tū nei
The house that stands here
E te marae e takoto nei
The Marae that lies here
Tēnā kōrua, tēnā kōrua, tēnā kōrua
Greetings, greetings, greetings to you both
E ngā mate haere, haere, haere
The deceased - go, go, farewell
E ngā rangatira e te iwi kāinga
The esteemed one - the home people
Tēnā koutou
Greetings
Tēnā koutou
Greetings
Tēnā koutou katoa
Greetings to you all
Immediately following the conclusion of the mihi it is important to finish your speech by introducing yourself.
This can be done by providing whakapapa detail through a 'Pepeha', using the following format:
Nō ............... ahau
I am from ...............
Ko ............... te maunga
My mountain is ...............
Ko ............... te waka
My waka is ...............
Ko ............... te awa / moana
My river / waterway is ...............
Ko ............... te iwi
My tribe is ...............
Ko ............... tōku marae
My marae is ...............
Ko ............... tōku ingoa
My name is ...............
Followed by an introduction of your position as a Department of Labour employee:
He kaimahi ahau
I work
mō Te Tari Mahi
for the Department of Labour
Nō reira, Tēnā koutou
Therefore, Greetings
Tēnā koutou,
Greetings
Tēnā koutou katoa
Greetings to you all
NB: If you do not wish to include a 'Pepeha' you can conclude by introducing your name and position only.
It is important to close any mihi with an introduction of yourself.
An example of a full mihi, including personal introduction and pepeha could look like this:
Tēnā koutou katoa
Greetings to you all
E te whare e tū nei
The house standing here
E te marae e takoto mai
The Marae lying there
Tēnā kōrua
Greetings to you both
E ngā hau e wha
People of the four winds
E ngā iwi e tau nei
People gathered here
Tēnā koutou katoa
Greetings to you all
Nō ............... ahau
I am from ...............
Ko ............... te maunga
My mountain is ...............
Ko ............... te waka
My waka is ...............
Ko ............... te awa / moana
My river is ...............
Ko ............... te iwi
My tribe is ...............
Ko ............... tōku marae
My marae is ...............
Ko ............... tōku ingoa
My name is ...............
He kaimahi ahau
I work
mō Te Tari Mahi
for the Department of Labour
Nō reira, Tēnā koutou,
Therefore, Greetings
Tēnā koutou,
Greetings
Tēnā koutou katoa
Greetings to you all
