MAori Business Korero
MAKING A SPEECH - HE KoRERO
When standing to make a speech it is customary to introduce yourself. It may also be appropriate to acknowledge key people. Maori 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 (papatuanuku).
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
Tuia i roto, tuia i waho
Tuia i te herenga tangata
Te whare e tu nei, tena koe
Tu tonu, tu tonu
E nga rangatira
E nga kaitiaki o Te Tari Mahi
Ki te whanau Te Tari Mahi e huihui nei
Tena koutou
Tena koutou
Tena koutou katoa
Bind it above, bind it below
Bind it inside, bind it outside
Bind us where people meet
The house that stands here, greetings
Stand forever
To the Leaders
Guardians of the Department of Labour
To the whanau of the Department of Labour gathered here
Greetings
Greetings
Greetings to you all
Mihi to acknowledge guests and the venue (non-Marae)
Te whare e tu nei, tena koe
Te papa i waho, tena koe
Ki te whanau e huihui nei
Tena koutou,
Tena koutou,
Tena tatou katoa
To this house standing here, greetings
To the sacred earth outside, greetings
To the whanau gathered here
Greetings
Greetings one and all
Mihi to acknowledge important dignitaries / guests
Tihei Mauri ora
E nga mana
E nga reo
Rau rangatira ma
Tena koutou
Tena koutou
Tena koutou katoa
Behold the breath of life
To the important ones
To the speakers
The many respected people
Greetings
Greetings
Greetings to you all
Mihi to guests at a non-Marae venue: - including acknowledgement to those who have passed away
Tena koutou katoa
E nga mate, haere, haere
Hoki atu ra ki te po
E te whare e tu mai nei
E nga mana,
e nga iwi,
e nga reo
Tena koutou katoa
Greetings to you all
To the dead
Be at peace
The house that stands here
To those people of note,
the iwi,
the voices
Greetings to you all
Mihi to guests on a Marae
Tena koutou katoa
E te whare e tu nei
E te marae e takoto mai
Tena korua
E nga hau e wha
E nga iwi e tau nei
Tena koutou katoa
Greetings to you all
The house standing here
The Marae lying there
Greetings to you both
People of the four winds
People gathered here
Greetings to you all
Mihi to acknowledge the Marae, the whanau of the Marae and to those who have passed away
Tihei Mauri ora
E te whare e tu nei
E te marae e takoto nei
Tena korua, tena korua, tena korua
E nga mate haere, haere, haere
E nga rangatira e te iwi kainga
Tena koutou
Tena koutou
Tena koutou katoa
Behold the breath of life
The house that stands here
The Marae that lies here
Greetings, greetings, greetings to you both
The deceased - go, go, farewell
The esteemed one - the home people
Greetings
Greetings
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:
No___________________________ahau
Ko___________________________te maunga
Ko___________________________ te waka
Ko___________________________te awa / moana
Ko___________________________te iwi
Ko___________________________toku marae
Ko___________________________toku ingoa
I am from___________________________
My mountain is___________________________
My waka is___________________________
My river / waterway is ___________________________
My tribe is___________________________
My marae is___________________________
My name is___________________________
Followed by an introduction of your position as a Department of Labour employee:
He kaimahi ahau
I work
mo Te Tari Mahi
for the Department of Labour
No reira, Tena koutou
Therefore, Greetings
Tena koutou,
Greetings
Tena 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:
Tena koutou katoa
Greetings to you all
E te whare e tu nei
The house standing here
E te marae e takoto mai
The Marae lying there
Tena korua
Greetings to you both
E nga hau e wha
People of the four winds
E nga iwi e tau nei
People gathered here
Tena koutou katoa
Greetings to you all
No___________________________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___________________________toku marae
My marae is___________________________
Ko___________________________toku ingoa
My name is___________________________
He kaimahi ahau
I work
mo Te Tari Mahi
for the Department of Labour
No reira, Tena koutou,
Therefore, Greetings
Tena koutou,
Greetings
Tena koutou katoa
Greetings to you all